Almost 50% of our population (Approximately 600 million people) defecate in open and they don't have access to proper sanitation. Mr. Modi has promised to build toilets for people to address the issue.
My take on this issue is simple - rather than providing people toilet, make them to have toilets. Make it a status symbol and an aspiration to have a toilet. A shift in popular attitude is necessary.
Poor people don't feel bad when rich look down on them. They feel bad when their neighbours look down on them. The toilet needs to have similar status in mind and life as mobile phones have. You look odd when you don't have it. When you have a better one, people are jealous of you.
Also, there is documentary evidence that people are unable to accept or understand why a room has been surrected around their community. And usage of room as toilet discontinues, it is either abandoned or not used as a toilet. It becomes a store room. People continue to defecate outside.
So, we need to 1st create toilet in the minds of people. We have to change the repositioning of toilet from dirty dark room to a happy and colourful room. We have to reposition the toilet in the mind of people like a product. Toilet is a lifetime companion. We have to explain them why they need to have toilets and why they need to have good toilets.
One strategy is to change the greetings. This is proven fact that people will feel happier after visiting a toilet. So, create a greeting like, Are you happy today?" This greeting will create a fashion and reposition toilet in the minds of people leading to a cultural shift which is essential to adoption of toilet in desired way.
My take on this issue is simple - rather than providing people toilet, make them to have toilets. Make it a status symbol and an aspiration to have a toilet. A shift in popular attitude is necessary.
Poor people don't feel bad when rich look down on them. They feel bad when their neighbours look down on them. The toilet needs to have similar status in mind and life as mobile phones have. You look odd when you don't have it. When you have a better one, people are jealous of you.
Also, there is documentary evidence that people are unable to accept or understand why a room has been surrected around their community. And usage of room as toilet discontinues, it is either abandoned or not used as a toilet. It becomes a store room. People continue to defecate outside.
So, we need to 1st create toilet in the minds of people. We have to change the repositioning of toilet from dirty dark room to a happy and colourful room. We have to reposition the toilet in the mind of people like a product. Toilet is a lifetime companion. We have to explain them why they need to have toilets and why they need to have good toilets.
One strategy is to change the greetings. This is proven fact that people will feel happier after visiting a toilet. So, create a greeting like, Are you happy today?" This greeting will create a fashion and reposition toilet in the minds of people leading to a cultural shift which is essential to adoption of toilet in desired way.
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