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Informative Article | Geography | India | Volume 4 Issue 11, November 2015

The Battle between Toilets & Minds

Jaideep Kharb

Abstract: Mahatma Gandhi said in 1925 that for India Sanitation is more important than independence,. Indian Government is committed to achieve the goal of total sanitized country on or before 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi (2nd October 2019) through Swatch Bharat Abhiyan Campaign. But author is worried about the way which has been chosen to achieve this goal. People still believe in cultural taboos. Many people dont build or use toilets due to many beliefs or age old practices. In rural areas one can easily found that three out four persons in a household prefer to go in open for defecation while having a toilet in their premises. If proper precautions will not be taken then it will also not give the significant impact as of earlier policies/programmes. For making 100 percent sanitized open defecation free India, Government should plan to hit peoples mind by focusing on more and more behavioral change along with constructing toilets. If detailed survey is conducted in rural India the figure of open defecation will rise between 5-10 percent. Because from most of rural households one or more members are going in open, even having toilets in their premises, but these are considered in different category.

Keywords: Cultural Taboos, NSSO, Swatchata March, Survival to Fittest, SQUAT

Edition: Volume 4 Issue 11, November 2015,

Pages: 781 - 784

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