Awakening to Swachh Bharat – a womans’ perspective

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By PriyaVasudevan,18 July 2018: On 2^nd October 2014, when PM Narendra Modi made the ambitious announcement of Swachh Bharat by 2019, the skeptic in me went back to the failed attempts made by several past government to address and resolve a socially entrenched evil.  However when Swachh Barat launch was followed by a marketing and branding blitz complete with regular and aggressive reporting of progress made…..it started becoming real. For a Mumbai bred working woman who proudly practices a clean lifestyle – Swachh Bharat was more about aesthetics – making the surroundings clean and pleasant. It was moe about ‘others’ than about ‘me’.  All that changed……..and how…………

Last month, the better half and me decided to take a road trip to Kerala. Taking a much-needed break before I took on a new job – double the responsibility and perhaps half the peace! While the husband was planning the route and stocking up on snacks, I was busied myself buying the usual sanitizer, tissue papers and water containers. As we started on the trip – I reminded myself, no tea of coffee while on the road – for 2 days! Tea or coffee means more trips to the loo!! We women have mastered the art of holding back a biological urge – till we reach home or in this case a decent hotel. While men did their business on the roadside, many women are uneasy even going behind the bushes and hence manage the situation proactively by drinking less water or holding on ‘till bladders are bursting’…

Our car rolled to our first stop – near Pune. I was surprised by the level of cleanliness and the professional woman attendant at the ‘Ladies toilet’. Dismissing this as an exception also attributing it to the prosperous Maharashtra belt, we moved on.  The next one was a petrol pump – almost uninhabited. As I tentatively looked around for a toilet (least expecting a ladies one!), the elderly attendant at the petrol pump asked ‘Toilet?’, sheepishly I nodded yes. His assistant quickly ran into the store and brought a set of keys to the Ladies toilet. As the door opened, my reflexed braced for a strong odour – and whew! What a relief – a neatly kept place complete with a tissue roll. ‘Swachhata at Petrol pumps’ which was an element of Swachh Bharat – branded waste segregation bins was visible and ‘in use’.  The story was the same in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Even the roughest of roadside eateries had a clean (not new mind you) washroom with running water.

Clean toilets during travel – were pipe dream for many Indians in general and women in particular. Within few years and sustained efforts from Modi Government, it has become a reality. For me personally it was a moment of awakening – transforming Swachh Bharat from being all about ……….aesthetics to a deeply personal and valued experience.

Joining hands with our PM to make Swachh Bharat a resounding success and a fitting shraddhanjali to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150^th birth anniversary!!

—————- Priya Vasudevan @uniquepv