Neat maintenance of Public Toilets in Chennai - the great efforts of Madiga Venkateshwarlu

Months ago, there was a newspaper report stating that the Indian  Indian economy loses nearly $54 billion (around Rs 24,000 crore) annually due to lack of toilets and poor hygiene, quoting  a World Bank study.  It stated that in a study 'Economic Impact of Inadequate Sanitation in India', conducted by its South Asia Water and Sanitation unit, the multilateral body said premature deaths, treatment for the sick and loss of productivity and revenue from tourism were the main factors behind the significant economic loss. The cost of treatment for diseases due to poor hygiene was estimated at $38.5 billion (over Rs 17,000 crore).

It is a fact and we have to admit with shame that sanitation and cleanliness are great issues that is found lacking everywhere in India – all – individuals, Corporates, Society, Government, Politicians – are to be blamed – for we are not conscious of that at all.

It is extremely unfortunate that about  half the world's reported cases of polio, a crippling disease virtually wiped out in Western countries, occur in India. Each year, diarrhea kills 500,000 Indian children. Jaundice epidemic strikes some  small districts  as regularly as the annual monsoon.  Most of the diseases afflicting the Nation can be traced to contaminated drinking water,  poor sanitation and inadequate sewage disposal.  Fewer than 30 percent of India's 950 million people have bathrooms in their homes or easy access to public toilets. The rest routinely relieve themselves in the open -- along roadsides, on farmland or in municipal parks.  No more than 250 of the country's 4,000 cities and towns have sewer systems, and many of those systems do not have treatment plants. The bulk of municipal sewage -- even from such major cities as Bombay and Calcutta -- flows untreated into rivers, lakes or the sea.

As you enter Chennai in a train, perhaps from Delhi or Kolkatta, you are greeted with stench and one can see people defecating in open.  The pride of Chennai, Marina beach also stinks.  All public places frequented by public have one common lacunae – absence of a neat public toilet.  Most do not have one and even in places where you can find one, one would only think of avoid entering for the fear of the nauseating smell and lack of maintenance.  The scene is no different in Private places like Cricket stadium, Cinema halls, Malls where good amount of money is collected for entry.  People paid in thousands to get a ticket for watching few hours of cricket at Chepauk during Indian Premier League.   But the toilets inside the stadium were so shabbily maintained that one would not dare enter them.  Why such a filth and apathy !

Commercial institutions which invests crores and spend lakhs of rupees for maintenance, do not care to spend a few thousands for keeping the toilets clean.  If that be the case, the plight of those maintained by Corporation can only be imagined…… perhaps we as a Nation need to change our attitude  towards toilets;  it  has always been that since its a place that we visit once in a while and more importantly not in easy view of guests, customers or the public at large, it need not be cared for.

Americans call is ‘rest room’ and for westerners personal hygiene is of utmost importance.  Filth and stench emanating from the Public toilets in Railway Stations, bus stands and in other places  would make the passerby frown – dare not enter. 

Our mentality is to blame the system and the other individuals for all the woes.  It is easy to say that masses spoil all the infrastructure. It is actually lack of infrastructure that always spoils.  Triplicane once used to appear so filthy, especially around the Temple tank.  Hundreds of devotees come for Sri Parthasarathi Swami temple and some of them sleep in the mantaps in completion of their vows and for various other reasons.  What will they do when there is no proper place – no proper lavatories or bath rooms.  Realizing this, we at SYMA have been maintaining a Public Convenience opposite to the temple tank.  It is an infrastructure of the Temple, maintained by SYMA, accessible to public without any payment. 

The Sulabh International has been active and have put up  public toilet complexes in public places and slums on ‘pay-and-use basis’  which are generally in better shape. 

As we complain for lack of maintenance, today there is a news item in Dinamalar  mentioning of Public toilets in High Court complex and in Kasimedu areas being maintained exceptionally well.  The report states that one individual has taken the initiative in ensuring the cleanliness and maintenance of Public conveniences and describes the state of affairs as also the difficulties encountered by those involved in cleaning and maintaining the toilets – which is by the community of adi andhras. 

At a time, everyone tries to blame others for their non-performance, people like Mr Madiga Venkateshwarulu who leads this entity deserves special appreciation.  He exudes confidence and says that together we can change the Nation and lead towards betterment.  Kudos to him.  He can be contacted at : 9176000555; aayassociates@yahoo.com. Dinamalar also deserves appreciation for regularly publishing such positive things. 

Here is what appeared in today’s Dinamalar – Chennai edition

http://epaper.dinamalar.com/PUBLICATIONS/DM/DINAMALAR/2011/08/02/ArticleHtmls/02082011101010.shtml?Mode=undefined

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.