The announcement by the Prime Minister on sanitation cannot sound more hollow in the wake of the murders of two Dalit children last month for defecating in the open. Though the Prime Minister is perpetually trying to present a rosy picture of the nation in the international arena, the ground-level realities are quite otherwise (Page 1, “Prime Minister Modi declares country open defecation-free”, October 3). There might be a significant increase in sanitation facilities, continued usage of toilets in rural areas but success depends on the availability of water as well as definite behavioural changes. That being so, ever-widening income inequalities made possible by government policies and the fact that disparity and untouchability are still prevalent show that the country has still a long way to go in achieving ‘ODF’ status. Mere proclamations might enthuse supporters of the Central government, but saner minds understand that much remains to be accomplished.
G.B. Sivanandam,
Coimbatore
The illegal and inhuman way in which the local administration, especially in some northern States, has gone ahead to fulfil targets “assigned from the top” has not only subverted constitutional values but also the principles of barest civic morality (OpEd, “Miles to go before becoming open defecation-free”, October 3). It has been inevitable that those who are marginalised have been made to suffer in the fulfilment of this campaign. It is unfortunate that we are being sold lies and brutality in the name of celebrating a man known for upholding the values of truth and non-violence.
Firoz Ahmad,
New Delhi
The claim can be challenged. Though the government has undertaken the responsibility of building toilets in rural and urban areas, the point is this: how many in a household use it? Toilets may have been built but if there are still people who prefer to defecate in the open, it shows the lack of change in behaviour and education about the importance of having a clean and healthy environment.
Jagyasini Burma,
Cuttack, Odisha
Allocation and distribution of funds to building toilets are not enough. Monitoring is also a must. The government should review the list of beneficiaries and check whether there has been a change in behaviour. There may not be open defecation in surveillance areas. The fact is that a majority in rural India still lack proper toilet facilities.
Sobhana P.S.,
Vandiperiyar, Idukki, Kerala
The government cannot ignore that fact that overcoming water problems, septic tank cleaning, stopping manual scavenging and faecal management are also an integral part of the process of declaring India to be open defecation-free. There cannot be an announcement made with closed eyes for mere political gain and global attention. There needs to be an abolition of manual scavenging, the use of data, the use of robotics to clean faecal storage areas and a linkage with the Ayushman Bharat programme.
K. Kesavan,
Chennai
