Answering nature’s call…
A movement for toilets
By Neha Upadhyay
“A world where every home is prosperous
Every courtyard is lighted with a ray of hope
Where everyone's dream comes true
To bring boundless joy all around
Let's all come together and build a happy Sulabh world.”
Sulabh International, an NGO working on sanitation sings the above Hymn of Harmony every morning before starting their work for the day.
Motivated by the words of Jawaharlal Nehru, “The day every one of us gets a toilet to use, I shall know that our country has reached the pinnacle of progress”, Sulabh has been consistently working to this mission.
November 19 is recognized as World Toilet Day, a movement for all those who do not have an access to toilets and to draw attention to a basic need, which is not commonly expressed. Led by Singapore-based World Toilet Organization, World Toilet Day (WTD) aims to increase awareness on the importance of toilet sanitation and each individual's right to a safe and hygienic sanitary environment.
This day is a reminder that 2.5 billion people around the world are toilet-less. Regarded as important as any social issue, if not more, Dr Bhindeshwar Pathak, founder of the Sulabh Sanitation Movement and winner of the Stockholm Water Prize (2009) states “Toilets is a part of the history of human hygiene which is a critical chapter in the growth of civilization”.
The Scenario
Open defecation is one of the worst problems faced in the country today. According to the National Family Health Survey (2005-2006), 55% of the households have no toilet facilities. Out of this, 74% is the rural population and 17% is urban. Only 29% of the households have toilet facilities that are improved and not shared with any other household.
The lack of proper toilet facilities in the households leads to open defecation and forces people to squat in public places such as fields, train tracks etc. This unhealthy practice creates breeding grounds for faecally-transmitted diseases and increases the chances of diarrhea, cholera, typhoid and worm infections. It also increases the burden of malnutrition especially among children.
The government launched the comprehensive Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) in 1999. This flagship programme of the Ministry of Rural Development was introduced to ensure sanitation facilities in rural areas with a goal to eradicate the practice of open defecation.
In Karnataka, the percentage of households with access to toilets is 46.5%, of which 82.7% is urban and 21.9% rural (NFHS-III). According to the ASHWAS survey conducted on household water and sanitation (2008-2009) in rural Karnataka, 72% of the people defecate in the open and have no access to toilets. The practice of open defecation is highest in Raichur at 98% and lowest in Dakshina Kannada at 15%.
‘Nairmalya’, a recent state level sanitation programmes aims to ensure that every household has a toilet facility by 2012. Launched under the aegis of the Karnataka Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Board, this state level programme runs simultaneously with the Central government programme.
NGP - a matter of pride
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An interesting innovation was introduced in 2003 in the form of Nirmal Gram Puraskar, an award scheme under the TSC to honor and encourage selected Panchayati Raj Institutions which have achieved full sanitation coverage in their area of operation and become Open Defecation Free and clean villages. This national level scheme has been awarded to Panchayats of six States during 2008 - Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka and Maharashtra. As many as 12,075 Gram Panchayats, 105 Block Panchayats, 8 District Panchayats have been honored with the award.
Clearly the NGP award winning villages reflect the progress made under TSC. And it also demonstrates that despite the dismal and grim statistics, it is indeed possible to achieve toilet coverage through community mobilization and community driven approaches.
World Toilet Day is an opportunity to draw attention to newer and innovative ways of community based approaches to raise awareness to toilet sanitation. It also draws attention to the fact that toilets are a fundamental right for all. It also reinforces that accessibility to toilets gives psychological and physical well being and dignity.
As stated by Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary-General United Nations, “Access to sanitation is one of the most overlooked and underserved needs. It is nothing less than fundamental issue of human dignity and human rights.” |
