Corporates, charities join hands to build toilets in India

Wednesday 22nd March 2017 06:20 EDT
 

India's poor sanitary conditions have since long been the topic for discussion. With over 600 million people in the country defecating out in the open, numerous children and women frequently fall victim to diseases and violence. However, launching a drive to promote building toilets in every house in rural regions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made sanitation a priority for his government.

Rendering support to the noble cause, several organisations and charities recently came forward- including Bharti Foundation, the CSR arm of Indian conglomerate Bhart Enterprise, which has offered to construct toilets. The project is part of a £10 million initiative that aims to provide 12,000 toilets, covering 900 villages in Ludhiana, Punjab. Bindeshwar Pathak, Sociologist and founder of Sulabh International, which maintains the programme, said, "To meet India's goal, it needs to build around 12 million toilets for which it needs around 3,60,0000 million Indian rupees. India has 690 districts, and over 640,000 villages. To provide toilets for over 600 million people, every village must have a motivator, whose job will be to educate, motivate, and train people on healthy sanitation practices and help implement projects. They will also carry out the necessary maintenance and follow up and will help the beneficiary."

The organisation has taken up the programme to promote rural sanitation in 350 districts across the country. Their volunteers are trained in technology, methodology, implementation, and follow up. The lack of proper toilets has led to several issues, including rapes, and kidnapping of girls and women. Paramjit Kaur, 27, mother of three children, informs that those women who don't have access to proper sanitation are vulnerable to sexual harassment, and assault. Meanwhile, a Water Aid study reveals that around 48 million children in India are stunted as toddlers as they are constantly exposed to disease carried by faecal matters.


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