Sanitation is a basic necessity for a healthy and safe lifestyle. It includes
clean, drinkable water and an adequate sewage disposal system. Sanitation affects the health, lifespan and the quality of life of individuals.
Sewage disposal is essential for curbing the spread of diseases through
vectors who breed in a polluted environment. Yet it is not rare to see a
‘nali’ is filled with toxic waste and plastic. A staggering 78% of untreated
domestic waste is dumped into rivers and seas which pollutes them and
disturbs the harmony of the ecosystem prevalent there. In 2019, out of our rural population, only 44% had access to clean water and proper sewage disposal. More than 1,40,000 children under the age of five die every year from diarrhoea caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation in India.
In our country, nearly half of the population practices open defecation, which naturally adds to the problem of sanitation. Fourteen months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachh Bharat Mission was announced, more than $360 million was invested, to support the construction of toilets. Moreover, more than 25 lakh toilets have been built throughout the country. But to achieve the vision of an open-defecation-free India, ten crore additional toilets must be built.
Our government has made constant efforts to increase the sanitation but
there is a long way to go before our country can have a well-managed
sanitary system. The pioneering vision to deliver clean water and
sanitation to everyone in India is achievable but requires dedicated political will and financing. The political will is now in place but financing such a large-scale vision also requires support from the people so that millions of Indians can lead a healthy and dignified life.
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