Census sheds new light on changing nation
Though half of all Indians do not have a toilet at home, well over half own a telephone, new census data released on Tuesday show.
These and many other contrasting facts of life have come out in Census 2011. The data on housing, household amenities and assets cast new light on a country in the throes of a complex transition, where millions have access to state-of-the-art technologies and consumer goods — but a larger number lacks access to the most rudimentary facilities.
Live, connect, move — census at a glance (PDF)
It shows Indian society is overwhelmingly made up of nuclear families. They have ever more access to electricity and gather their information from television, rather than radio. At the same time, women are forced to rely on traditional smoky fuels to cook, and less than a third of the population have access to treated drinking water.
Only 46.9 per cent of the total 246.6 million households have toilet facilities. Of the rest, 3.2 per cent use public toilets. And 49.8 per cent ease themselves in the open. In stark contrast, 63.2 per cent of the households own a telephone connection — 53.2 per cent of mobile phones
Releasing the data, Registrar-General and Census Commissioner C. Chandramouli said the lack of sanitary facilities “continues to be a big concern for the country.” “Cultural and traditional reasons,” he argued, “and lack of education seemed to be the primary reasons for this unhygienic practice. We have to do a lot in these areas.”
However, the data also show significant deficits in areas that have nothing to do with cultural practices or poor education. For example, two-thirds of households continue to use firewood, crop residue, cow dung cakes or coal for cooking — putting women to significant health hazards and hardship.
The data also show that just 32 per cent of the households use treated water for drinking and 17 per cent still fetch drinking water from a source located more than 500 metres in rural areas or 100 metres in urban centres.
There has been an 11 percentage point increase in households using electricity, from 56 per cent to 67 per cent. The rural-urban gap for this indicator has dropped by seven percentage point, from 44 per cent to 37 per cent.
India, the data show, is now overwhelmingly made up of nuclear families — a dramatic change from just a generation ago, where joint families were the norm. Seventy per cent of the households consist of only one couple. Indian families are overwhelmingly likely — 86.6 per cent of them — to live in their own houses, but 37.1 per cent live in a single room.
Though there has been a nine percentage point jump in the numbers of households who own a two-wheeler, 45 per cent own a cycle, which remains the primary mode of transport.
The data cast light on the changing character of the media. There has been a 16 per cent increase in the number of households watching television, but a 15 per cent decline in the use of radios and transistors. A total of 47.2 per cent of households own a television; only 19.9 per cent have either radio or transistors.
Correction: The table has been edited to correct an error in earlier versions which suggested the number of households with (1) latrine facilities connected to a piped sewer system and (2) with no drainage system were 11.9 per cent and 48.9 per cent respectively of households with a latrine facility inside the house. In fact, these numbers are a percentage of all households.
Keywords: Census 2011, India mobile phones usage, sanitation, internet connectivity, vehicle population
This is because they find it as basic need for communication to get in touch with the others and at the same time people are finding it as important and affordable tool as per their budget requirements.
Now comeing to toilets as on today , most of the rural people are not aware of the replications/impact on their life without toilets . But due to land scarcity it is somewhat better in urban for government welfare initatives ie constructing the low cost toilets.
Finally we have to sensetize the eleigible communities and create awareness on useage of toilets to stay healhy without any helath problems.
Open defecation and its natural decay that happens in Indian villages is
not objectionable at all provided that enough space is available
(Basically it should not pollute water bodies). The system is the best
decentralised and low energy solution for disposal. Centralised storing
of faeces just like Nuclear waste is a high energy/water intensive
practice but unavoidable in cities. PLEASE THINK ABOUT IT. IT IS NOT
NUCLEAR/PLASTIC WASTE.
Waste solutions take decades. 100+ years for U.S. The report indicates a water-based waste disposal system is not immediately practical or affordable in India. Other solutions have been used for many years and have reduced cholera and other diseases to a minimum. 2010 in Ukraine and Russia I was surprised to see entire apartment complexes use "outhouses" which are treated with lime, dug out with tractors when full. People were clean, healthy, and the cities did not stink. In parts of Mexico they use a bucket with a seat. The bucket is filled with sand, sawdust, straw, etc. Waste is carried to a one spot for drying in the sun, later used for mulch and fertilizer. In a city there could sand piles and collection points. My point is being clean and healthy are possible with a low budget. Discipline is required. In old America we also used dried corncobs, magazines, catalogs, and of course newspapers to wipe afterwards. The Hindu could render double service! Good article. Made me think.
This numbers about toilets and cellphones are not surprising and I don't understand why it's government fault. Cellphones are purchased by individuals and is a choice. Having a toilet in your home is not government's job but providing sewer system is . People who live in crowded slums or slum like area, sometimes right next to open sewer lines, don't build toilets as space is a premium and its not cheap to build one or is it possible to get sewer lines to these almost always illegally constructed homes. Even if you want to put sewer lines, how would you do it when there is hardly any space to even walk in these area and most of all, even if the government puts down sewer lines in the street, will individuals pay to connect their homes to these sewer lines and build toilets? Let's not just complain about India's "development" or "democracy" or "economy" or "government doesn't do anything". The problems are huge and a not so small chunk of it is expecting somebody else to do it for you.
Politicians and rulers are responsible for this, without basic aminities
for majority of its people country is working to be the super
power..!!!1
You don't need a census/study to find this. The common sight of people
defecating on the railway tracks (& urinating almost everywhere) AND a
mobile phone glued to their ears is enough.
Good article in reminding the people and the governments..shame for the governments of the past and present..good work and best challenge for the present and incumbent, centre and state governments is to achieve a toilet for every home in the nation(to justify the inclusive growth slogan)..
The Hindu, the newspaper with which I grew up and respect a lot, is becoming extremely one sided and misleading when it comes to social issues. Whenever you do an evaluation based on a metric, you compare with ideal standard and the previous period actual. Against every metric, when you compare it with previous period information, what we see is growth and improvement. I am not disputing the fact that we are still behind ideal standards. But a news item shoudl give both to get a fair perspective. Please see the table that Mint has published on the same topic.
Hindu was quite happy with 90% of the population in poverty with no possession of any goods, just like any communist, because the lack of growth was spread across the entire population. Now it is unhappy because the growth is uneven. We have inherited a massive problem and it is not going to go away in one or two decades. What we should look at is directionally are we improving? Can it be speeded up?
We are simply destroying our lives by imitating western culture...
Indians only need luxury..not the basic amenities...! All are over-educated..!!!
No one asked me what I have. From where they made this census?
Can it be possible that the tele density is achieved because of lower call rates which again propels the cell phone manufactures to have a pie of the market share which in turn propels them to bring devices at lower cost?
And it is very much possible that corporates had to pay less for the 2G license because of the scam thanks to A RAJA.
If corporates pay less they pass on the benefits to the consumer!!!
Reminds me of an incident in the TN assembly when Mr. Karunanidhi was
the CM and SVe Sekar an MLA of the opposition party. Lauding Mr.
Karunanidhi for his generous Re.1/Kg rice scheme, Sve Sekar posed a
question thus: "A family of 5 needs about 5 Kgs of rice per month which
they can now easily procure thanks to your rice scheme. But after having
had their hearts fill where will these good people go to egest what they
had ingested...?!?!..."
Three major issues which need utmost attention are:Population,
Education, and Sustainable environment having ample scope for clean
drinking water.
Policy makers should strive to chalk out a concrete plan towards
Population check. This in itself will ensure proper mobilization of
resources.
Also in terms of clean water availability, District level monitoring
should be done to mandate rain water harvesting and even financing
this for poor in the villages.
Appropriate funds should be allocated for creation of sanitation
facility in rural areas which amounts to a major portion in terms of
those attending nature's call in open. Subsidized materials should me
provided to poor to create sanitation facilities.
i agree this is not the pleasant data.
I am not surprised, but saddened by the survey. This shows the
misplaced priorities among the people and the ruling government. Some
have lauded the "development", and "progress" that cellphones have
brought - I remember the days when one had to wait 6 years for a home
phone connection, after paying a deposit of Rs 6,000 to the P & T
department.
We have come a long way from those days. However, where is the dignity
of the individual, health & sanitation when we use the roadside or the
farm as a toilet? This is a result of the disparity in wealth
distribution and our "couldn't care less" attitude. Government policies
are also to blame, but what about individual attitude? Isn't that an
irony that we are a land of billionaires, aspire to be a "superpower" &
yet don't have restrooms in our houses?
65 years after independence, we count among the powerful economies of
the world, and yet lack basic sanitation. I hope that changes some day,
in my lifetime.
Its all good to see my brothers and sisters talking about the
awareness, cleanliness, corruption and government functions. I am one
of your kind. Well how many of us just crib on these issues and
through opinions over internet and then forget and actually do nothing
about it. Cleanliness starts from home. We talk about most clean
cities abroad but forget to keep ours when we spit on roads and
through the trash outside our homes. We do talk about the government
functioning and actually do not like to join the government to try and
bring a change. Awareness can spread like a jungle fire only if it was
a Koleveri Di.
If the govt. really WANTED to do something, all of these problems can be fixed
within one 5 year plan. But our political system seems to think of these problems as
Opportunities and to keep these opportunities abundant, the problems are retained
to their fullest. SHAME! I have often heard people say, India is too big hence it can't
be a Singapore (for example). So why not divide and rule better? My house is right
next to a railway track. The number of people relieving themselves in the morning,
men, women, children.. its embarrassing. The politicians that DONT KNOW ABOUT
THIS, DONT WANT TO FIX IT OR DONT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT.. SHOULD BE THROWN
OUT. What's the point of having highly educated leaders when the education does
not reflect into actions that help the society? SHAME
When you have to walk long to the outskirts of the village or climb the hilltop to answer nature's call ...you need a cellphone to keep in touch with your family.
I have never heard of 'Hygienic public toilets' as an election promise nor a demand from voters! So who is to blame?
Dear sir.
This statment declares that our so called rulers commitment towards providing the basic amenities to the needy and middle class. It is shame on our political front. Every year the union government and the respective state governments spend crores of rupuees on discussing public issues in parliament, assemblies and councils. But at the end of the session the outcome is a big ZERO. Leaders are so interested in passing or amending laws for their luxurious needs. Why they are not bothered about the poor? The governments should involve the corporates in taking up social activities. When corporates demand more subisidies, tax beneftis from governemnts, they should extend their cooperative hand in social activities.
I hope the leaders whether they are in ruling or in opposition should think and sort out problems that are being faced by the commoner.
We need smart people to create a smart country. And we need more smart people to keep it smart. We have some of the smartest people in the world, yet we are not a smart country. Do you know why? It's because most of them are not in the country in the first place! People from premier institutes such as IITs and IIMs are those who hold the key to making our country better. They are trained to perfection and posess the problem-solving skills that is required to solve problems. We need good policy makers, scientists, engineers, managers etc. who can change India for the better. Good planning is of paramount importance; planning in the field of infrastructure, transportation etc. Many run away to foreign countries to fill their pockets and in-turn, it is those countries which are becoming more and more developoed in the process.
Ask not what your country has done for you, ask what you have done for your country. We should find a soultion to retain talent which is critical to our nation.
It is easily available to observe at slum areas or roadsides where some kind of project is running by Govt. or big brands in constructions, the labourers are used to stay in temporary Kacha houses has no toilets nearby but with number of dishtv on their huts while some of them don't even have bicycles to move to their jobs. it resulted that people could accept excretion in open but they couldn't self deprive from entertainment after full day physical labour.They can even complaint to Dish TV owners for poor broadcast or non availibilty of TV signals but never complaint for toilet facility. All is the matter of Awareness and Govt. should be consistently approached to such levels to make societies neat and clean.
Jairam Ramesh of the Congress made hinted at the same thing a few days back and he was accused of insensitivity etc. These numbers clearly prove him right. I guess he had the facts but lacked lacked tact in getting his point across.
Government is giving 50 percent subsidy for the construction of Toilet which may cost around 10,000 rupees. Many people waste their money on cenemas, drinks, cell phone charges, cigarettes, pan, gutka etc., Most people are earning more than Rs.200/- per day, and several of the family members have separate cell phone. The toilet gives pride to woman and sick person feel happy for the toilet in rural areas.It is true that no second hand toilet available in the market. But it is available on installments and many house owners can afford it. I have seen several villagers earn and spend most of their money on beer and toddy on which government earns huge income. We have laxity on necessity and ignore laws. The neglect of us will definitely will cause great damage and spread many deceases to all of us. Now it is better to educate public to have their own toilet to give respect to their own family. Whatever amount comes in should be used to built up toilets to those who actually need.
As long as corrupt politicians, bureaucracy and self-centered corporates
occupy centre stage in government policy and decision making exercises,
where the rich companies are enjoying tax breaks, results in the
insufficient funds allocation for social welfare of general public by
the government. Unless companies are taxed as general citizens and tax
incentives are restricted to geniune companies, this will be situation
to the long time in India.
India will never achive real progress if basic amenities are not provided to the vast population. With ever growing population and no concrete efforts on the part of governments to educate people on norms to have small family across religions, it looks impossible to ensure healthy and congenial living to people. There should be basic honesty on the part of government to improve the livinng condition on one hand and people themselves have to realise how their life should be. People should understand and cooperate with government. For anything to achieve, the will of people and committed govenment with no corruption is most needed. Unfortunately these two are conspicously absent.
The preliminary analysis of Census 2011 shows the low % of toilet and safe water facilities. Not much difference exists between Indian Econonmic Problems in 1970s and 2020s. same poor sanitaion conditions, no safe drinking water and poverty exists still in our country. When I studied BA Economics in 1974, my economics professorused to teach from his notes and he justified his action by saying not much changes had taken plavce. The same notes of econmics can be still applied in 2020 also. More communications and more poverty are the part of our planning and development.
Depressed to see this very poor report card after 65 years of Indian
Independence. The fault lies with the Politicians and the Bureaucratic
lag. Are these politicians not ashamed to see these kind of reports
who give big speeches on Independence day and republic day's that we
will make India like this like that etc etc.
I had an opportunity to go to Dubai and Singapore and I was surprised
to see the standard of living there, the facilities the governments
are providing.
We are telling to our-self that are we are Number One , but in reality
we are nothing when comparing to other counties, just having one
mobile phone will not show any development.
Basic amenities like Food , Shelter ,Clothing and Education has to be
there for each and every citizen of India which our government should
make sure of.
Our politicians should at least now open there eyes and do something
to our dying country.
Not making the 48 Billion Indians more richer should not be the
Governments sole aim.
My professor in the UK who was a drainage and water engineer always stressed that
'doing it in the fields' is a much better system than drainage. Why bother with pipes
when nature has a way to take care of itself. Real problem should be lack of latrines
in urban areas where there is no open fields.
There is no need for public outcry especially for lack of latrines in rural households.
There must be programs on sanitation and hygiene for awareness among the
class who prefer cellphone over toilets. Standard measurement should be
made on the basis of adaptability of sanitation and hygienic way of
living. People who have toilets should be given priority in everything
like rashan, kerosine, sugar etc. whatever benefits they get from govt.
There is no proper regulation and plan from the government to ensure that the what ever subsidies or praposals are reaching the people at right time and right place.There is no transparcy and if this lack of transparcy is removed I think lot of problems can be solved.I suggest that what ever bills and endorsements passed by the government should be made publicly with all the information crsital clear so the evey person can understand what's happening and what they are supposed to get.Also Media should play an important role in taking this to the every person and make them aware first of all and the political mediatiors who are known as the snatchers should be put to strict rules just as the private software companies do.So that we can create a transparent medium at each level from the government to the people.Hope all things can be solved to large extent if this could be implemented by the government...
Providing latrines is not the governments job. Goverment should facilitate low income rental housing in Urban areas with tax incentives. This emphasis on owning as opposed to renting is detrimental. In rural areas there are people who own motorbikes and do not have toilets. A number of families own homes, are on BPL subsidies, but do not have toilets. They should be strpped off their BPL priveleges. There has to be a carrot and stick policy.
This would not be call as contrasting facts of life. This is better
call as contrasting paths of development, which is the outcome of the
growth policies of the neo-liberal agenda. We get mobiles and other
manufacturing products in every nook and corner of the country, but
cooking gas, electricity, and essential commodities are highly priced.
Internal migration of casual laborers across the country may need of a
mobile set as a necessary item, while they can somehow satisfy their
need of a toilet. Indian development policies have portrayed this
picture.
I think the census should be rather like people who have cellphones and they have a home and then does the home have a toilet. This gives a feel of the mindset, the problem is that owning a home is quite a huge responsibility but cell phone is not so much of a deal.
Dear All
Why we always complain the system and politicians? How many us don’t offer bribe to get our governmental works done? How many of us are CLEAN HANDS while claiming taxi voucher/meal coupons in our offices. How many don’t lie to get petty discounts in groceries? There are many educated fellows travelling by train in our metros knowingly not buying the tickets. Are these not corruption?
Lets fist have a resolution that we will not even give or take a single rupee in our day to day life. The nation is measured by its people, not by their rulers
Let’s stop complaining, Lets we change ourselves then the Nation changes!!
With 50% of people using open space for defecation! 97% have no internet connection!! Still some of us believe India is shining and urgently needs superpower status!!! Disgusting.
The census 2011 explicitly tells that still a large strata of Indian
population lacks basic amenities like water, electricity, fuel for
cooking, toilets etc. Almost 50% of Indian households do open
defecation. Two thirds of Indian households continue to use firewood,
cow dung, coal, crop residues to cook food exposing women to
significant health hazards. Its really saddening seeing the real
picture of India. The reason behind magnificent mobile penetration is
private participation, competition among several players. Private
participation is key for rural development. Development needs to be
inclusive in order to make it sustainable. Census clearly shows the
urban rural divide.Rural development has to be made first priority.
You cant have privileged haves and underprivileged have nots in a
country aspiring to become superpower.
Atleast now, government should wake up from dreaming 8% or 10%, what ever they call it GDP growth, and start taking measures about sanitation and health Care. As aN Indian citizen, my opinion is vote vote for party which has these things as their mandate rather than building temples or 75% reservation.
Weird suggestion -
For SIM card registration, latrines at home should be made mandatory. So, mobile phone companies will bring open defecating people to light & government can easily target them for providing subsidy to build latrines. A perfect PPP model.
Joke apart, we need to educate people.
Raja Effect
One thing not to forget is that people got to understand the use of mobiles but they are unable to understand the need of sanitaion and hygienic drinking water.Now the responsibility lies on the government to publicise the effects and need of this issue. It seems the Minister of State is more concerned about this long lasting problem in recent days. Hope we get better results similar to Polio eradication which was endemic to India.
Some startling facts. But one thing that can be misleading is looking at the overall averages as the disparity among the rural and urban figures is big. This disparity is the impetus for the large exodus of rural population to urban areas. Another indicator of how the state has not been able to provide the basic amenities( sanitation). The better performance of private sector doing its job( mobile phones), might lead to people going all gungho about privatisation. But should rather look at it as a question mark on the state machinery, rather than looking at private entities as "viable solution".
The figures are misleading. For example, in case of electricity even in cities you do not get more than 20 hrs/day. In case of treated tap water, drinking water comes 2-3 hrs/day. This is the scenario in Bangalore. In case of computers with internet internet is way too expensive and slow compared to US/developed countries. Also, computers are of much inferior quality compared to developed countries. The figures are quantitative not qualitative.
Good insight. But where is water to wash down toilets ?
Easily available, cheap and uses of connectivity drives even the rural
strata to buy the mobile. The network company advertisements becomes true here. No electricity No water No transport but Full network! The buzz word is Dont get lost.Stay connected
Haaa...when Jayram Ramesh said this, we called him a Madman.It is estimated that we will spend 4 billion dollars in the near future due to unhygienic conditions.
India: A classic example of superficially modernized society, with
persisting internal contradictions.
A census of regret and rejoice simultaneously! For the government it's
a regret that it couldn't fetch to the citizens the basics like
toilets, water and hygiene and for the citizens it's a matter of
rejoice that they have earned enough penny to make technology touch the
ground in the face of mobile phones and televisions. Now here comes the
opportunity for our caretakers. They must use the technology earned by
the common man as a leverage to manoeuvre their dormant skills.
Techniques of farming, weather forecasting, disaster warning and social
skills can be made to trickle into the dilapidated and remotely placed
huts of hitherto excluded not-so-fortunate brothers and sisters of
ours. This is just a flat news in The Hindu. Very shortly I expect an
article in The Hindu suggesting government the ways and means to
optimize this new acquired strength of unheard Indians to harness new
and effective channels of growth.
Technology travels faster than toilets!!!!!....
If one carefully makes an analysis of the data so compiled in the census, it is not difficult to find where the problem that plagues our country for so long lies. Lack of sanitation, lack of civil sense, lack of quality education, the ever increasing social division and then the rampant corruption are taking this nation to hell! The ruling class and those in waiting to be at helm continue to hoodwink people for their selfish motives. I think it is hard to change the attitude of older people. We may try with the children, I mean, those in primary schools. But, unfortunately, there is few teachers who can set examples to them too!
This is Very Very revealing data and for all those people voting and asking Govt to :
1. FDI in Retail
2. Nuclear Power
I would say the priorities of Central Govt should be
1. Social Infrastructure - Primary Schools, Drinking Water, Basic functioning Public Toilets across the country.2. Deliver cooking Gas to Rural India. 3. Support Housing thru Steep reductions in Housing Loan Interest Rates (India has too high home loan interest rates) 4. Rural Renewable Energy Systems (Solar, Bio ) Instead our Govt is keen to Spend Billions of dollars on Nuclear Power plants that take 10's of years to build ! Thanks Hindu for doing great service to the nation by sharing good data.
There is a very simple takeaway from this census that many people
will refuse to acknowledge. Profit-seeking companies can do a much
better job than the government in providing services in India. The
spectacular success of mobile telephony despite corruption and crony
capitalism suggests that sectors such as power, water, sanitation and
LPG will do much better if the government lets market forces work.
Some households have more than one cell phone. If it is an affluent family each member will have one if not more. There is serious flaw in our aggregate data. If one person has a million rupees and his next door neighbor has only one rupee Our statisticians reckon the average and put it at Fivelakhs fifty paise. The only barometer of economic progress is the employment percentage. But we deliberately avoid talking in terms of the rate of employment which is very unfortunate .
Toilet's cost is around 10,000 to 15,000/- which is not afforded by the
citizen who earns even 200/- per day, today mobile phone is avaiable
from the range of Rs. 800/- and if it was second hand, you can buy at
Rs. 500/-. No second hand toilet available in the market. They can not
be comparable. they are necessities, Govt. should attach the properties
of political leaders who are responsible of crores of scandels, on auction of such properties, whatever amount comes in should be used to built up toilets to those who actually need.
These statistics are the changes which comes naturally and eventually in a country where corruption is the main motto. This can not be called progress and an attempt to present it as progress in some form of growth is an deceptive illusion. To oppress people to such extent that they are still seeking food and pure water as the part of their life struggle is our NATIONAL SHAME, and everyone of us who are enjoying the same are also the culprit.
This data says that we are slowly slowly modernising ourselves through television,mobile but still more than 50% of our population does not have the basic facilities like toilet,treated water,LPG cooking etc.We are still lagging behind by miles in our basic amenities.
Who said toilet is a must when railway tracts are there and added to that open fields, beaches. People in India want natural surroundings to ease themselves whether urban or ryot. Mobile is a status symbol
Thus it concludes private players( telecommunication companies) have much deep penetration in villages. Therefore, though the people don't have basic facilities but do have mobiles!!!
Therefore governmnet of India should think for private partnership in sanitatio facility provided at village level also.
The shocking data from goverment of India.It is shame on the part of us by not providing safe drinking water,toilets,smokeless fuel which are essential for provinding good health.We do not understand why we gave more importance for entertainments without providing basic amenities.Education and health are the most important factors for human civilisation advancement.This clearly shows that we are living in dark age.The information technology widens the gap between rich and power.By pumping more money on IT we increase urbanisation there by rural being neglected.Jawarlal Nehru rural urbal development programmes to be strengthened.We require more fund to provide safe drinking water,electricity,toilet facilities for rural area.So many state governments issues freebees to stay in power should note down these points.Unless we provide these basic amenities,india continue to be a developing nation there by Dr.Kalam's dreams will remain in paper only.
More importantly we need to shake off our behaviour and entertain some civic sense. Public Toilets are for every one's use and should be treated accordingly. Show respect for other's use. Modern toilets are easy to clean by anyone regardless of gender or caste.
"However, the data also show significant deficits in areas that have nothing to do with cultural practices or poor education. For example, two-thirds of households continue to use firewood, crop residue, cow dung cakes or coal for cooking — putting women to significant health hazards and hardship."
Is this correct? The culture of discrimination against women must be at work here. If it were men who cooks at home,then more families would have shifted to cooking gas...
Congratulations on deriving the statistics or both rural and urban
populations, recognizing the characteristic difference between the two.
However, I find that many of the parameters, which have been used in the
Data Highlights, are modern conveniences, establishing and promoting the
notion that the modern urban lifestyle is better.
There are lot of good things about this country to be proud of...But issues like this is tarnishing our nation's image among the other countries. Even the countries which are lesser to us will not be facing this kind of hygiene issues. Literacy is not an issue here, simple common sense is enough to understand the need of hygiene. Will anyone with moral walk in the road nude? What education do we need to stop this? Almost 65 yrs since freedom and we still couldn't eliminate this nemesis means its a total failure of understanding the basic hygiene needed for human living. We ourself created the worst image of this country by doing things like this. When will we learn??? When will we stop??? When will we be proud of our country??? Govt can strictly implement the rule for building a house with toilet and those who are not following shall be severely dealt with. Until the authorities are strict in this issue there won't be no improvement.
Holding a cell phone was a status symbol few years ago. Both the cost of mobile and usage has become so affordable to reach poors too that is prime object of technology and policy by Government.Share Value of mobile operators have also gone up considerably to the envy of everyone. In such unpredictable future, persons adapted the policy to achieve above are in trouble.
We need cheaper and healthier food, water and cheaper electricty power is very important. Once we have sufficient and cheaper electricty most of these problems will be solved..See the hardships and production losses.
After 65 years of being an independent country, it is a national shame that around 50% of the population ease themselves in the open, and a large majority of the rest have access to latrines with no running water or use public toilets which seldom are useable. With corrupt politicians and industrialists will India ever be able to solve its toilet problem which is getting worse as the years go by.
For the more than 80% of the population who do not have access to a decent toilet or a toilet with no running water it is a dream which will never come true and the sorry part of the equation is that this segment of population also does not care how or where they ease themselves. It is a custom their ancestors have been following from the days of the stone age so why change now. No wonder tourists avoid India as most of them on visit to India get afflicted with intestinal diseases and malaria, etc. Thanks to the corruption and ineptitude of Indian mismanagement which will never change.
The figures do not present the correct picture unless correlated with the size of the households broken up state wise and further classified into urban/rural. Still there is lot to be done to improve sanitation facilities. The target should be to ensure provision of toilet facilities whether public or individual to each household and also educate the people to think the area outside their homes as their own and not as an area to be used for open defecation. This is especially true of areas adjoining railway tracks which are treated as public toilets and present an eye sore early in the morning to travellers looking out of the window. We should keep in mind the example of Japan which has one fifths of India's population despite having an area which is a microscopic fraction of that of India. If Japan can do it why not India.
Yes build more toilets not temples or other religious worship centres. they say that"Cleanliness is next to Godliness" Ramaesh Sir,I think we should say Cleanlinees should come before godliness. Sanitation in all walks of life is paramount for a healthier and richer nation. Education, discipline and enforcement of laws and by laws should be adhered to. In temples, hospitals and all public places the authorities should have special provision for good sanitation.Should encourage the staff and public to be proactive on matters of good housekeeping , hygiene and cleanliness. There should be public awareness on matters of personal hygiene.
We were in Varanasi/UP, 2 weeks ago. The place stinks. It is supposed to be holiest place for Hindus. Please please do something. Authorities both local, state and Union should make it mandatory to keep public places clean. Take a leaf from Singapore and lately Sri-Lanka. , Where no litter , no smoking in public places and no spitting.ON THE SPOT FINE
The headline and conclusion of this study, while important, are
somewhat misleading. These suggest that half of Indian households have
cellphones but not toilets; however, there is bound to be a huge
overlap between these two groups. Indeed, the households which have a
cellphone are much more likely to be the same households which have
toilets as well.
I'm not trying to downplay on the poverty or lack of facilities in our
nation; but the conclusions set out in this article are inaccurate.
Perhaps if we see the number of households which have neither
cellphones nor toilets (or those with both facilities), it would give
a much more meaningful picture.
Who cares, buddy? as long as I have everything, i do not care if the guy
next door even if he is a rich or a begger has any of it! India truly is
a nightmare and total failure of democracy due to its bureaucracy and
corrupt politics with politicians and corrupted legal system. I would at
any cost emigrate to a much developed country than India at any time,
only because I can't stand these corrupt system anymore.
Pollution control Committee Amritsar is high lighting the issue of sanitation since long with authorities to provide public toilets which are indicator of the culture. People without latrines especially women as told Dr Manmohan Singh in a statement is a shame for the country. This data proves that issue is serious & demands attention of the Govt. At centre & state level. PGIMER Chandigarh conducted a study on behalf of PPCB Patiala which warned that if untreated sewage continued to be thrown in open water bodies mutation of cells will occur & may lead to birth of disabled babies in Punjab.
I hope Govt will take note of the issue & ensure functioning of sewage treatment plants in local urban bodies to protect the masses from cancer like ailments in the country.
Pedestrians & cyclists are most vulnerable to accidents their movement on the roads is at mercy of the fast moving vehicle owners as there no cycle tracks on the roads.!2th five year plan should take care of healthy city & villa
This is very much informative to know our nation India where its grown.
We still defect in major area by the way of basic amenities. The
developed country will have the basic amenities for their country
citizens. We are lack in these, our government have to look on these and
make this budget very useful to heal this variation.
It is true. i do not know about the accuracy of the census. But just
walk down in major cities for few hours in the day and in night. 50% of
the any city's population will be sleeping on the road. Especially, just
go-round in Delhi, in night, you can see the crowd living on the
streets. But all of them will have mobile phones. My sympathy goes to
them. Hopefully a revolution should happen to bring these people in to
mainstream
Kudos to Indian governments for providing mobile to such a vast number
of households.Probably, government better understands the necessities of
people, Latrine is used once or twice a day, but mobile phone is needed
more than that. Moreover in providing latrine, there is no use of 2G
spectrum.
Please Email the Editor