Swachh Bharat

This is my first  blog post of 2016. I did not realise that I had missed writing blogs for the past three or more  months . ( last post was Oct 2015 ) One of my very good mentors at the Rotary noticed  that there was no posts from me  and prodded me –“ Do not stop the writing habit  in you” . The question was very timely from him.

 And that prompted me to introspect –

Was there any reason to stop writing ? I realised that there was a big diversion .. The rains of November and December and its  aftermath that had an impact on my daily schedule . That could have been the only reason for me to miss out writing .  Either way , I am back to writing and the post is about “ Open Defecation “ and how we ( Ford ) are trying to help avoid open defecation.

Earlier towards the end of 3^rd quarter 2015, Ford had taken the initiative to build  Toilets and we looked around to see how we can do this effectively. There was a team that went around several places to see how we get this project off the ground . After several visits to potential targets , brain storming sessions , we choose a village that would support and work with us  ( Villagers taking part through some contribution and alignment with the Panchayat President )and also found a great social worker who had developed the ability to build low but efficient cost  toilets that will not only serve as Toilets but also can be used to have a bath. The setup of these toilets also had a good mechanism for waste management.  To align everyone in the village , was possible because of this social worker who was omnipresent.

We went ahead and gave the order . The rains had their part and there was a delay. So , last week ( middle of Feb ) , we decided to get to this village which has 350 households and was very close to the city limit ( may be 7 Kms from a close connecting transport hub and about 14kms from City ) . The installation of the Toilets had just began and the team had complete close to four homes in the village . We were really impressed with the work done .

But the discussion is not about this – Some of the things that surprised us  at the village were:

1.       None of the 350 homes had a toilet or a bath room

2.       Most of the houses were built well and some were really good – with concrete and wood work

3.       All of the homes had a Two Wheelers ( Bikes and Scooters )

4.       Television was a certainty at each of the homes

5.       No doubt, all them had mobile phones and some  Android ones

6.       The village was of course surrounded by Agricultural fields

BUT None of them  had toilets !!!

Just shocking and I looked at what the Prime Minister said on this and I could relate so well as to why he said this

“Has it ever pained us that our mothers and sisters have to defecate in open? Poor womenfolk of the village wait for the night; until darkness descends, they can`t go out to defecate. What bodily torture they must be feeling, how many diseases that act might engender. Can't we just make arrangements for toilets for the dignity of our mothers and sisters?’

— Narendra Modi

This was  what was happening exactly in this village

The toilets will be there in this village in the next three months for all the homes . The Panchyat President of this village is a lady and she wants her village to be declared the First village to be free from Open Defecation .. Will her vision prevail ?

There are several challenges

The village is not used to using bathrooms or toilets in the past – they are never used to it being part of their home !

This has never be a priority for the men – to build a Toilet in their homes

The toilets that  are being constructed can be used for other purposes ( Store room etc etc )

Constructing toilets alone will not help but a social change has to emerge in  this village.

It is going to be difficult but the will of the lady Panchyat President should prevail with our support. And it has to start somewhere and may be this will the village that will do that “ Get rid of 100 % open defecation “.

Fingers crossed !