If you ask anyone who has been to India they will confirm that every day is an emotional roller coaster. Such is the immense contrast between wealth and heartbreaking poverty, for one billion people living in an area one-third the size of Australia. I recently was fortunate enough to visit and from my first day, experienced this first-hand. I went for a walk on the litter strewn streets of Mumbai. Across a mere one kilometre stretch I encountered mansions, a high rise apartment building, a mall with top Western brands - and outside all of them, children and adults defecating in broad daylight. People walked or drove right past, carrying on with their day, and not a head was turned. I felt confused. Did people not realise the health concerns and dangers of such a practice? Was the government that helpless in providing the most basic of necessities for its population whilst it was advancing in so many other areas? I’m sure these questions have plagued the minds of many. To our relief, newly elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi is assertively endorsing his “Toilets before Temples” approach in a national push for sanitation reforms.
Jorge Royan
The election of Mr.Modi to the prime minister’s office has finally brought this issue to the forefront of future policy decisions in India. Modi has taken the controversial motto of “Toilets Before Temples” as a guiding principle underlying his vision of a clean India. The current WHO statistics depict a rather bleak image, with Indian open defecation accounting for 59% of the global total. At a national level, this equates to an astonishing 626 million people practicing open defecation, dwarfing second ranked Indonesia at 63 million. Subsequently, addressing open defecation does not only represent a shift forward for India, but the entire global population.
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Perhaps Mr. Modi realises these facts, and has tactfully raised this issue across the economical and social spectrum with this toilets before temples approach. Economically speaking, the equation is simple; eradicating open defecation leads to eradicating health issues. These health issues will reduce the burden on the entire health system, whilst increasing life expectancy and subsequent human capital. And in the process of installing greater sanitation facilities, many jobs will be created. An incredible ripple effect.
But there's many challenges. Studies have found that open defecation has become a social norm; a deep rooted habit hard to change. Hence Mr. Modi needs to couple his economic approach with educational programs across the country, leading to a social movement. Perhaps this is why his comparison of toilets carrying a greater priority than temples has merit. In prioritising sanitation over religion, Modi has highlighted the importance of health and sanitation issues in a country which has its roots embedded in religion. For Indians and the world alike, Mr. Modi is making a statement. A statement that open defecation and sanitation issues transcend religious and cultural practices. These are issues of key concern to humanity as a whole; political policies should treat them with the importance they deserve.
Mr.Modi’s ambitious policy changes are aptly timed for the global political climate to take notice. With the celebrated Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) coming to an end next year, work is currently being undertaken to establish the next steps to end extreme poverty - Sustainable Development Goals. This is an opportunity for development programs to include eradication of open defecation in their agenda. Following India’s lead, we currently find ourselves in a favourable position to push for the eradication of open defecation, and improve sanitation around the world.
India’s rapid development and growth has provided us with a glimpse of how much potential this nation has. But this can only be realised if the fundamental issues of sanitation are addressed. Thankfully, Mr.Modi and his regime feel the same. For the world’s sake, I hope Mr.Modi’s strong approach to sanitation is sustained long enough to see significant change in the country. I hope, this will provide a positive precedent for the rest of the world to follow, if one billion people can make a shift towards prioritising sanitation and eradicating open defecation, the rest can certainly follow their lead.
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Zubin Malhotra