Open Defecation is a War Against Society

There was a catchy news story from India about a 104-year-old woman from a village in Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari district who sold her goats to construct toilets at her home. The most amazing thing is that the prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, in a function, touched her feet as a sign of respect.

It must be inspiring news for all Indians. Prime Minister Modi went to the extent of telling the media persons to write about her instead of writing about him. Keep away all the politics; this very act of Prime Minister Modi is really appreciable. We must learn to keep politics away when dealing with the social issues in our country. I may have different political views that may not match with those of the current ruling party in India. That should not limit me from appreciating them when they do good activities. The moment I restrict myself from appreciating good things even if they are done by my political rivals, I think that would be the height of my intolerance.

Real changes are happening in Indian society. The woman's initiative to build toilets encouraged other villagers to follow her, and they also constructed toilets. The Prime Minister felicitated Kunwar Bai from Kotabharri village of Dhamtari for her efforts to make her village open defecation free.

Open defecation is one of the greatest concerns that modern India faces. With almost 40 percent illiteracy, it is hard to educate the importance of cleanliness and hygiene to a majority of Indians. Open defecation is not only limited to the rural areas in India. The busiest financial capital of the country, Mumbai is notorious for people defecating in open air. 

The issue of open defecation may have a direct relation with education and poverty, but it is not the only reason, at least in India. People having enough money also do not give priority to constructing toilets while constructing homes. Because they find that there is an alternative choice to attend the call of nature. Open defecation is a crime against society rather than an individual's right to enjoy the communication with nature.

There is a biased perception in the Western countries, especially about India, that Indians eat in private rooms and defecate in public. I have heard many black jokes about open defecation in India. Some years back, the BBC had reported about combating open defecation in India and the desperate fact that the dedicated groups working to eradicate this social evil are also losing their war.

The southern state of Kerala is one of the most highly educated places in India. Still, open defecation is an issue of concern in rural areas of Kerala. I remember participating in a campaign organized by Sastra Sahitya Parishad (an NGO promoting scientific awareness in the society) during school days to bring awareness to people about the importance of making toilets in their homes. We marched through villages at night, shouting slogans such as "At least one toilet in each home." That movement could raise awareness at least to some people, and we noticed an increasing activity of constructing toilets in our village.

As the prime minister reiterated, the media should concentrate on highlighting the importance of the initiative taken by Kunwar Bai. Media can influence the public to a great extent. They just need to focus on the development of the country rather than just going behind political rivalries and paid news by business corporates. Media do not need to devote full time to social issues but should not neglect them fully. 

Open defecation is a war against society. Open defecation poses a serious threat to society and public health because it can pollute drinking water sources. This pollution may result in the transmission of illnesses like cholera, diarrhea, and dysentery. Studies have proved that human excreta that are infected harbor various harmful organisms linked to multiple health issues. One gram of contaminated human waste can harbor a range of microbes, including 106 pathogenic viruses and infectious virions, 106–108 bacterial pathogens, 103 protozoan cysts, and 10–104 helminth eggs.

We should not lose in the war. The prime minister's initiative to make India clean is the best chance to mobilize all forces to drive away this ignorance and win our war.