What is intended for health should not become the cause for spreading diseases.

The government’s ambitious plan to set up 60 million public toilets across India is a welcome and great move. However, the whole project is susceptible to failure if we overlook the present filthy condition of public toilets. There is so much that we should do if we want a result for the money and efforts.

Who is responsible for the unclean nature of public toilets? Where is the fund for maintenance? The disgraceful state of the present toilets needs to be addressed before investing in the much needed 60 million .Money is like toothpaste in the tube — easy to take out but hard to put back..So let us put in a bit of effort to monitor the cleanliness of the present toilets and to create social awareness regarding hygiene. Luckily we have a Prime Minister who promotes cleanliness.

The answer to the first question lies in another question. Why do we neglect hygiene education? Safe and healthy sanitation habits should be instilled in children. Parents and teachers should play an important role in educating the young generation about toilet habits.

Gandhiji said, “I learnt 35 years ago that a lavatory must be as clean as a drawing room. …I therefore believe in the absolute necessity of a clean place for answering the call of nature and clean articles for use at that time.” (Navjivan, May 24, 1925).

A person with self respect and dignity will use the common facility with responsibility. Self discipline is the virtue that will help us out of this disgraceful situation .Dirty toilets are equivalent to lack of toilets. Women are the worst affected by unclean toilets.

Delony Manuvel

Traditional behavioral patterns should be changed. Public awareness is the only way out. Simple acts of washing hands with soap and water after going to the toilet should be practiced.

Toilet etiquette must be a part of the syllabus. Walking away without flushing the toilet is nothing but laziness and outright insensitivity. Such negative actions must be dealt with corrective actions like compulsory social service.

Let’s do away with the assumption that kids learn it all at home. How many guys put the seat up while urinating? May be many are not aware of the trouble the “sprinkle while they tinkle” causes. There lies the importance of sanitary education. Regular awareness classes can cultivate a sense of courtesy which will create a better toilet environment.

On one side we have dog owners who won’t clean up after their dogs and on the other side low caste students are forced to clean the school toilets which force them to drop out of school. Such annoyingly weird situations can be eradicated with a positive change in mindset and stringent laws.