24X7 Radio jingles, major ad campaigns, constant news updates, and hoardings that you can’t ignore. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has certainly swept us off our feet, and how! While several measures have been taken to create a cleaner, more sustainable environment – toilets still remain a bone of contention for India. As of today, over 50% of Indian households still don’t have properly constructed toilets, and that is truly shameful, considering the fact that the mission for proper sanitation started off approximately three years ago.

World Toilet Day is observed on the 19th of November each year, and is a reminder of the importance of hygienic sanitation, which is, needless to say – a necessity. For India, however, World Toilet Day serves as an alert, wherein we take stock of the current critical situation, analyse the progress, and speed up the progress.

892 million still practice open defecation, and what may come as a surprise to many, is the fact that this unhygienic practice finds its roots in social evils like untouchability and caste discrimination. According to a lot of Indian villagers, defecating in open spaces is synonymous with being pure. While building toilets is a great initiative, educating the masses and instilling a sense of realisation is even more crucial for the cause. MBCN, through its social platforms, aims to spread the word and enhance people’s knowledge on the importance of toilets and their usage.

We are living in the 21st century, and what should be sorted at the basic level, still remains a big chunk in the road to our overall progress and growth as a nation. While several people are beginning to understand the urgency of the situation, we have a lot of scope, with a lot of action that needs to be taken in improving the sanitation, and overall well being of the citizens.