India’s “Open‑Defecation Free” Claim: What the Numbers Really Say
On the evening of October 2, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India is officially “open‑defecation free.” He said the country will finally be declared “latrines for all.” But is there any truth to that bold promise, given that many of India’s 1.3 billion residents still lack a proper toilet?
From 2014 to Today: Toilet Count vs. Reality
- Ma Gandhi’s 150th birthday this month has added a historical weight to the pledge.
- Since 2014, az 90 million toilets are claimed to have been built, earning Modi recognition worldwide—laughably including a recent accolade from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
- Government figures from March suggest fewer than 50 million people still go “outside.” That’s a drastic drop from the 550 million in 2014 and almost 0.55 million villages declared “open‑defecation free.”
Expert Eyes: The Numbers Aren’t as Bright as That Prank‑Buster Flaglets Mall Says
Data from both rural and urban settings raises eyebrows. Ms. Sangita Vyas of the Research Institute for Compassionate Economics explained:
“From 2014 to 2018, the share of households owning latrines jumped from roughly 35 % to about 70 %. That’s a good start, but in December 2018, roughly half the people in states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan were still using the great outdoors.”
Are we now full‑scale dream‑seeking or just playing a game of “count the toilets”? Many newly installed toilets lack running water, and cultural habits still keep many Indians from using them—even when there is a toilet in front of them.
Modi’s Grand Ceremony: Gandhi Tribute & The Soup‑Tasting & Stories
The soon‑coming ugly rotation of “Saturn holiday” begins with a meeting of 20,000 village chiefs in Gujarat, followed by a pilgrimage to the historic Sabarmati Ashram. The Ashram’s famous 10,000 jars of nutrient‑rich processed faeces (think sun‑dried “tea leaf” seeds) will be given to visitors for “planting.” The idea is that these jars bloom after a single watering—an eco‑friendly, albeit controversial, attempt to turn waste into a garden.
During the same evening, Modi paid respects to the late Mahatma Gandhi at the Raj Ghat memorial in New Delhi. He tweeted, “India shows gratitude to Mahatma Gandhi for his endless contribution to humanity…let’s keep working hard to realize his dreams and build a better planet.”
Nationwide Side Hustles: Popeece & Amnesty
- In Pune, a historic hospital room shows Gandhi’s 1924 appendicitis operation.
- Public holiday plans include a 600‑prisoner amnesty.
- Later, a year‑long, 14,000 km march for “global peace” will kick off in Delhi and cross ten countries, ending in Switzerland.
So, is India truly “open‑defecation free” or just a myth crafted for political theatrics? The numbers tell a complex story—one that lingers deep in the collective memory, alongside Gandhi’s dream of a cleaner, more dignified society. As critics say, the gauge is still very thin, but the journey is undeniably started.