Tackling Open Defecation and Improved Sanitation in Developing Countries: A Toilet Talk from the State of Bihar, India

Sandeep Kumar Sinha,Pradeep Chaudhry

doi:10.12944/crjssh.2.1.06

Sandeep Kumar Sinha, Pradeep Chaudhry

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.12944/crjssh.2.1.06

Copy DOI

Abstract

Open defecation is a major blot on India’s overall reputation as an emerging economy as it still remains stubbornly widespread across rural India. The present paper outlines the economic and psychological aspects of toilets construction and their sustainable usage in two districts of the state of Biharviz. Gopalganj& Bhagalpur. Bihar’s performance is not up to the mark with respect to the sanitation figures among other states of India. It was found that households owning a government constructed latrine,still defecate in the open. Study evidences support a preference for open defecation; many survey respondents reported that open defecation was more comfortable and desirable than latrine use. Old people prefer going outside as they are used to this routineand do not mind defecating in the open for the rest of their lives.The study was conducted with an objective to better understand and assess the issues and strategies of behavioural change, policies present in the system and suggesting suitable recommendations to address the issue of sustenance of open defecation free status in the state.

Highlights

Notwithstanding its remarkable technological progress especially in telecommunication and satellite launching sector, the progress on the front of eliminating open defecation is not up to the markin India
There has been a stark difference in Government of India’s data, as per the progress reported by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in 2014, 76 percent of families have sanitation facilities in rural areas.They pronounce this a very energetic and encouraging achievement which results with the introduction of Nirmal Gram Purushkar (NGP)
We noticed that out of 443 households who own toilets, 96 of them prefer going outside which means still more than one-fifth of this category households are going for OD. They do so because of many reasons (Figure 5).The findings of this study unveilinclination for open defecation in the state and by providing “access” to toilets without jolting the behaviour of people is unlikely to reduce the practice of open defecation.The present study suggests that absence of toilet infrastructure is the primary or solofactor for continued open defecation but constructing toilets wasalso not going to solve the problem of open defecation in rural Bihar as the mindsetof ruralpeople needs to be changed

Summary

Introduction

Notwithstanding its remarkable technological progress especially in telecommunication and satellite launching sector, the progress on the front of eliminating open defecation is not up to the markin India. There has been a stark difference in Government of India’s data, as per the progress reported by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in 2014, 76 percent of families have sanitation facilities in rural areas.They pronounce this a very energetic and encouraging achievement which results with the introduction of Nirmal Gram Purushkar (NGP). During the decade (2001-10), the figures accelerate and reaches up to 65 percent.[4] In contrast to these encouraging figures, numbers released by the population census in 2011 came up with very grim picture as far as the rural India is concerned, this study shows that only 30 percent of rural families have access to sanitation facilities as of 65 percent in 2010 released by the Ministry

Objectives

Results

Conclusion