India is a country of contradictions. On one end, we talk about technology, space travel, world class education and becoming a world superpower while half of our countrymen do not have toilet in their house.
This reminds me of an incident when I was travelling by bus from Mumbai to Shirdi. It was fun trip and we were out for a vacation. We were passing time enjoying and singing with friends when the driver stopped the bus for a break, apparently because the driver wanted to answer nature's call.
But what was notable is he simply got down, turned to the corner of the road, opened his zip and started his business on a tree trunk. But did it come as a surprise to most of the people in the bus? No.
It is so common to see men emptying themselves by the road-side, along a wall or by the tree.
Following him many men in the bus also got down and dispersed inside the trees polluting different trees and grasses.
But what about women, I asked. And got the reply from a lady sitting on the next seat - "Tum bhi chali jao na". She was a rural looking woman, darker complexion, colorful synthetic saree tied loosely and head covered by a veil.
"What?" I am not used to relieving myself in the open. I cannot imagine living in a place where this is a common practice, every day.
That lady asked her daughter Babli to get down and go in the field and Babli happily obliged.
It was disgusting. I got up and asked the driver to stop over a dhaba or petrol pump nearby so that the girls can also be comfortable.
And this is what I got in reply - "Madamji, Idhar hi side me chali jao ped ved ke peeche"
There are millions of such Babli's who do not have access to proper sanitation. If you happen to walk around the slums in the city during mornings, you will find men, women, children squatting by the road, each with his own water mug separated by few feet doing their business without any shame.
This is the major reason why so many children in India suffer from diarehhoa, cholera, worms in stomach and so many diseases.
The government allocates funds for making healthcare accessible, but what about funds for making toilets which is the root cause of diseases.
Not only diseases, there is a risk to safety and privacy of women too. Recently there was a case in Uttar Pradesh, two girls were gangraped. They were going to the toilet (in the open fields).
It's high time this issue is addressed. There is no point blaming the government, each one of us have to do something. Increase awareness, keep our surroundings clean, educate our maids about healthy sanitation practices or just contribute in the Domex #ToiletForBabli initiative.
You can bring about the change in the lives of millions of kids, thereby showing your support for the Domex Initiative. All you need to do is “click” on the “Contribute Tab” on www.domex.in and Domex will contribute Rs.5 on your behalf to eradicate open defecation, thereby helping kids like Babli live a dignified life.
This post is written for Toilet for Babli contest on Indiblogger in association with Domex India.
This reminds me of an incident when I was travelling by bus from Mumbai to Shirdi. It was fun trip and we were out for a vacation. We were passing time enjoying and singing with friends when the driver stopped the bus for a break, apparently because the driver wanted to answer nature's call.
But what was notable is he simply got down, turned to the corner of the road, opened his zip and started his business on a tree trunk. But did it come as a surprise to most of the people in the bus? No.
It is so common to see men emptying themselves by the road-side, along a wall or by the tree.
Following him many men in the bus also got down and dispersed inside the trees polluting different trees and grasses.
But what about women, I asked. And got the reply from a lady sitting on the next seat - "Tum bhi chali jao na". She was a rural looking woman, darker complexion, colorful synthetic saree tied loosely and head covered by a veil.
"What?" I am not used to relieving myself in the open. I cannot imagine living in a place where this is a common practice, every day.
That lady asked her daughter Babli to get down and go in the field and Babli happily obliged.
It was disgusting. I got up and asked the driver to stop over a dhaba or petrol pump nearby so that the girls can also be comfortable.
And this is what I got in reply - "Madamji, Idhar hi side me chali jao ped ved ke peeche"
There are millions of such Babli's who do not have access to proper sanitation. If you happen to walk around the slums in the city during mornings, you will find men, women, children squatting by the road, each with his own water mug separated by few feet doing their business without any shame.
This is the major reason why so many children in India suffer from diarehhoa, cholera, worms in stomach and so many diseases.
The government allocates funds for making healthcare accessible, but what about funds for making toilets which is the root cause of diseases.
Not only diseases, there is a risk to safety and privacy of women too. Recently there was a case in Uttar Pradesh, two girls were gangraped. They were going to the toilet (in the open fields).
It's high time this issue is addressed. There is no point blaming the government, each one of us have to do something. Increase awareness, keep our surroundings clean, educate our maids about healthy sanitation practices or just contribute in the Domex #ToiletForBabli initiative.
You can bring about the change in the lives of millions of kids, thereby showing your support for the Domex Initiative. All you need to do is “click” on the “Contribute Tab” on www.domex.in and Domex will contribute Rs.5 on your behalf to eradicate open defecation, thereby helping kids like Babli live a dignified life.
This post is written for Toilet for Babli contest on Indiblogger in association with Domex India.
