Despite several initiatives under the Swacch Bharat Abhiyan, in UP villages are still not completely open-defecation free. There are several houses in many villages that don’t have toilets. While some blame lack of money, the others cling on to archaic mindset which considered toilets as dirty. However, in a heart-warming news, Bigwada, a village in western UP’s Baghpat district has decided that they won't marry their daughters in houses with no toilets.
The village panchayat took this decision to save the “dignity of their daughters”. They believe that since long society has deprived women of this basic facility.
"If someone does not have money to build a toilet, they could avail benefits of government schemes for the same."
Panchayat head told the media that the village will ostracize those who falter to accept this decision. He further added that open defecation is against the safety and dignity of their daughters.
"If someone does not have money for construction of a toilet, they could avail benefits of government schemes for the same," he added.
ALSO READ: Zilla Panchayat CEO Hails Labourer for Building Toilet in Her House
A lot of attention is being given to this crucial issue of sanitation. Sadly, open defecation still is rampant even today both in urban and rural areas across the country. Recently, Bollywood also came up with a film on this issue—Toilet, Ek Prem Katha starring Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Padnekar. The film raised pertinent questions on the society which has adopted modern ways as per its convenience.
Apart from government initiatives, several NGOs are also working towards establishing toilets in homes in UP. An American woman, Marta Vanduzer Show is working for years to create e-toilets in UP. And they cost much lesser than what government’s toilets cost. Such initiatives should encourage more people to build toilets in their houses not just for women but for men too.
Picture credit- NYT
More Stories by Poorvi Gupta
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