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[ponpo]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/going-outside-turns-political-in-india-toilet-drive-1486722604

Going Outside Turns Political in India Toilet Drive

NIMORA, India—Long before Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to build ”smart cities" and mega ports, he mounted the ramparts of New Delhi's historic Red Fort and announced his most high-profile project: toilets.

Hundreds of millions of Indians don't have or use them, an issue of such urgency that Mr. Modi made resolving it by 2019 central to his plans to modernize his country.
...
But some Nimora villagers—and at least 40% of Indian households—still don't use them. Mr. Modi's campaign illustrates the profound challenges the country faces in becoming a first-world economic power. Toilet nonuse lies at the core of India's most-pressing health and development problems, including the spread of bacteria and viruses, diarrheal deaths and childhood stunting. It risks the safety of women who must go outside in the dark.

The toilet-building frenzy, tallied on a government website, shrouds a bigger problem: many who get toilets don't use them. Some consider it impure to use indoor toilets. At times, fathers-in-law refuse to share toilets with their daughters-in-law.

In houses unconnected to sewage systems—the majority of village residences—people worry about cleaning latrine pits, a job associated with those formerly known as ”untouchables." Others don't see the need to change.

”I like to take a walk," said Luv Nishad, 35, a laborer in the village of Nagar, ”and do my business away from where we sleep and pray."

In October, Mr. Koshle sealed a gap in the walls of a school whose large, grass-covered grounds had become a bathroom of choice. Dozens marched to his home in protest, wielding water buckets they carry for outside duty. They demolished the wall.

”Going to the toilet has become very political," said Mr. Koshle. ”You can't imagine the hostility we've encountered."

 

[Bladenic]

I needed a good laugh. Good to see other countries have insane political issues too

 

[Lkr]

in some countries, they politicize toilets, and people in other countries make fun of them.
people in those other countries politicize vaccines and don't see the issue

 

[Pein]

get your shit together india

 

[d9b]

in some countries, they politicize toilets, and people in other countries make fun of them.
people in those other countries politicize vaccines and don't see the issue

True story, I shit you not.

 

[Spaced Harrier]

I needed a good laugh. Good to see other countries have insane political issues too

Menstruating girls get raped and killed changing their pads in dark dodgy places away from their homes.

It might sound funny on a surface level but the reality isn't.

 

[Stereogatari]

Isn't eating with a knife and fork political over there as well?

 

[lastplayed]

Maybe they're right and we're wrong?

Gonna smash my toilet...

 

[StrongBlackVine]

Well this is pretty fucking disgusting. Just put it into perspective how good some of us have it.

 

[Replicant]

Well if you're into shitting while taking a bath then this surely puts a lid on it.

 

[Diancecht]

I've never been to India but my Indians friends in the UK used to tell me how disgusting that place was. Water, people, streets everything was shit filled. No intention of going there. Shame really, it "looks" like a cool place with tremendous amount of history.

 

[andrerobot]

They probably don't accept the toilets, because they're not getting the superior Japanese variety.

 

[nkarafo]

They should also stop swimming in that holy river of diarrhea.

 

[cartoon_soldier]

This part sucks here.

The need is public education along with building of toilets. But it is also much better than what it was even just 3 years ago.

As an example:
http://indianexpress.com/article/tr...use-kanpur-woman-refuses-to-tie-knot-2757870/

Bride refused to marry because groom's house did not have a toilet.

 

[sirap]

Always a trip seeing all the (literal) shit in India. Beautiful country but god damn.

 

[QuicheFontaine]

This part sucks here.

The need is public education along with building of toilets. But it is also much better than what it was even just 3 years ago.

As an example:
http://indianexpress.com/article/tr...use-kanpur-woman-refuses-to-tie-knot-2757870/

Bride refused to marry because groom's house did not have a toilet.

Ok THAT'S how you get toilets built everywhere super quick!

 

[Charles Brandon]

then first time you see a man taking a shit in the street in India is quite the culture shock

 

[lupinko]

They probably don't accept the toilets, because they're not getting the superior Japanese variety.

You meant the squatting toilets? I guess they are superior in a public setting since you don't have to sit on a public toilet seat.

 

[kurahador]

What the hell...this is insane.

 

[Dead Man]

I needed a good laugh. Good to see other countries have insane political issues too

Toilet nonuse lies at the core of India’s most-pressing health and development problems, including the spread of bacteria and viruses, diarrheal deaths and childhood stunting. It risks the safety of women who must go outside in the dark.

Hilarious.

 

[Ronabo]

A wall of toilets to be built.

 

[siddx]

Not a funny problem. It's an extremely serious issue, as the article states, it's a huge cause of health and safety problems.

 

[LewieP]

I live in Cambodia, and lots of public toilets have posters instructing people how to use them, with the main instruction being not to climb up on top of it and squat. I guess because people from more rural areas aren't used to using them. Some places don't have a fitted flush mechanism, you just use a little bucket and water.

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

This part sucks here.

The need is public education along with building of toilets. But it is also much better than what it was even just 3 years ago.

As an example:
http://indianexpress.com/article/tr...use-kanpur-woman-refuses-to-tie-knot-2757870/

Bride refused to marry because groom's house did not have a toilet.

When I'm not taking your shit has a literal meaning. This is fucking awesome!

 

[JonnyDBrit]

I live in Cambodia, and lots of public toilets have posters instructing people how to use them, with the main instruction being not to climb up on top of it and squat. I guess because people from more rural areas aren't used to using them. Some places don't have a fitted flush mechanism, you just use a little bucket and water.

There's that factor, both in that people don't necessarily know what to do, and overcomplicate the significance of the situation. In addition though, in a society like India's where the caste systems of old are still heavily influential, and a lot of tradition on how people of differing genders are meant to interact, a purely neutral and utilitarian thing as a toilet runs into problems.

For all his faults - and damn if he doesn't have quite a few - this is something where I fo find some respect for Modi. Silly as it seems in the West, this is important for improving the country's healthcare and standards of living across the board.

 

[Charles Brandon]

Another thing they do in India...in the city of Varanasi, which is on the banks of the holy river Ganges, you have to climb these steps in the city to get to the river bank and there are these places above the river where old people sit with their families asking for money. We asked what the situation was, we were told that the old people come up there when it is time for them to die but they need money for the death rites and so they wait until they have enough, then they die and the body goes into the river*.

In the river itself there are corpses floating around here and there and also people washing in the holy river. Crazy stuff.

*this was a long time ago I was there and I may have misunderstood what I was being told. I think what I posted was the general gist of the matter but apologies if I have got anything wrong.

 

[Chaos2Frozen]

I was in India on vacation some 15 years ago, till this day I never forget the sight of a single wall being used as a urinal.

Just a wall, nothing else.

Guess that hasn't changed.

 

[KHlover]

You meant the squatting toilets? I guess they are superior in a public setting since you don't have to sit on a public toilet seat.

Squatting toilets? You must be thinking of another asian country. Japan is the home of the most advanced high-tech toilets known to mankind.

 

[nelsonroyale]

I suppose this is another example of a simple technical fix not working. If you go to middle class or affluent areas, this issue doesn't exist to nearly the same degree. Poverty is the underpinning issue with many of India's distasteful traits (this, littering, river burials, etc). India needs to make more headway on its poverty issue. It doesn't have enough to go around to feed the billionaire fat cats. India is still very far from being a wealthy country for many of its inhabitants, and infrastructure in particular is still crap in many areas. Culturally, India is a fascinating place, but it is really interesting to travel between India and China and see the differences in what change government can mobilise.

 

[White_sox]

I find this most peculiar because the Harappans were credited with some of the earliest forms of sewer and sanitation systems. I know they aren't the same as the current day Indians, but still...

 

[Charles Brandon]

I suppose this is another example of a simple technical fix not working. If you go to middle class or affluent areas, this issue doesn't exist to nearly the same degree. Poverty is the underpinning issue with many of India's distasteful traits (this, littering, river burials, etc). India needs to make more headway on its poverty issue. It doesn't have enough to go around to feed the billionaire fat cats. India is still very far from being a wealthy country for many of its inhabitants, and infrastructure in particular is still crap in many areas. Culturally, India is a fascinating place, but it is really interesting to travel between India and China and see the differences in what change government can mobilise.

TBH I disagree with this. Poverty is not necessarily the underpinning issue. Many people have toilets, they just prefer not to use them. See also the river burial. It's a cultural practice not one resulting from poverty, although the people who practice it are poor.

 

[NekoFever]

Yeah, I went to India a couple of years ago. The cities are pretty bad, both for hygiene and general waste everywhere, but go out into rural areas...

 

[Atom Heart Mother]

oh god the memes were true

Good on the politicans trying to fix it

 

[Lovely Salsa]

This is why I love sweden. Our toilets are superb, I avoid countries with shitty toilet system.

Even US couldnt handle my shit (it got stuck in there, had to call someone to be able to flush again)

 

[jelly]

My friend who worked for Emirates airline said they had to force people to use the plane toilets on some flights when she was working in the Middle East/Asia. Said a lot of people had basically no modern manners whatsoever, spitting in the walkway as well.

Strange that there is that modern clash. These nations might look rich at times but reality is they are still way behind in the general public.

India with a Space program!

 

[Transhuman]

Why not shit in the shower?

 

[Rödskägg]

Squatting toilets? You must be thinking of another asian country. Japan is the home of the most advanced high-tech toilets known to mankind.

At peoples homes, yes, the western version is probably the most common but you can still find the squatting variety at public toilets.

This is why I love sweden. Our toilets are superb, I avoid countries with shitty toilet system.

Actually, squatting is the superior way to take a dump. It's better for your gastrointestinal system since you don't have to push as much and you will empty your bowels more efficiently. (Fellow swede here btw)

 

[el jacko]

Squatting toilets? You must be thinking of another asian country. Japan is the home of the most advanced high-tech toilets known to mankind.

I've seen squat toilets in Tokyo with motion-sensor lighting and automatic cleaning, so yes, Japan does have the most advanced high-tech squat toilets as well.

There's actually a Japan Railways station in the center of Tokyo with nothing but squat toilets.

EDIT: and at many public toilets they have signs explaining how to use the western toilets (for elderly who may not have used them before) and signs explaining how to use the squat toilets (for young people, who may have not used them before!)

 

[ClosingADoor]

Toilets and plumbing are one of the most important inventions ever. Hope the Indian government can make progress here.

 

[Firebrand]

This is why I love sweden. Our toilets are superb, I avoid countries with shitty toilet system.

Even US couldnt handle my shit (it got stuck in there, had to call someone to be able to flush again)

Make America Flush Again

 

[TheChaos0]

I've seen squat toilets in Tokyo with motion-sensor lighting and automatic cleaning, so yes, Japan does have the most advanced high-tech squat toilets as well.

There's actually a Japan Railways station in the center of Tokyo with nothing but squat toilets.

EDIT: and at many public toilets they have signs explaining how to use the western toilets (for elderly who may not have used them before) and signs explaining how to use the squat toilets (for young people, who may have not used them before!)

Hehe, I've seen those before and promptly realigned myself to be in the right position....

 

[OG Shaka Zulu]

Squatting is superior. They should install squat toilets instead of Western, the latter increasing colon cancer risk IIRC. Squatting clears your tubes more and is easier.

 

[itsbenoclock]

My friend who worked for Emirates airline said they had to force people to use the plane toilets on some flights when she was working in the Middle East/Asia. Said a lot of people had basically no modern manners whatsoever, spitting in the walkway as well.

Strange that there is that modern clash. These nations might look rich at times but reality is they are still way behind in the general public.

India with a Space program!

What were they using instead?

 

[John Kowalski]

Diarrhea can kill you??

 

[Surface of Me]

Take the poo to the loo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_peUxE_BKcU

Diarrhea can kill you??

Yes, via dehydration.

 

[jelly]

What were they using instead?

Any bigger area that wasn't the walkway. To be fair, they do catch most of them before the act but sometimes happens.

 

[Rödskägg]

Diarrhea can kill you??

Apparently it's the second leading cause of death in children under five.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs330/en/

 

[Stone Ocean]

Diarrhea can kill you??

Diarrhea won't kill you, the dehydration caused by it that can be deadly.

 

[TeamLeftMatch]

“Going to the toilet has become very political,” said Mr. Koshle. “You can’t imagine the hostility we’ve encountered.”

This makes me wonder why is a toilet political is there any notation behind using the toilets in India

 

[Charles Brandon]

Any bigger area that wasn't the walkway. To be fair, they do catch most of them before the act but sometimes happens.

Wow