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1. You don't know that ("most"). 2. Water is fairly scarce in certain regions. Considering how unhygienic such toilets end up in such far off places, I probabl

1. You don't know that ("most"). 2. Water is fairly scarce in certain regions. Considering how unhygienic such toilets end up in such far off places, I probably would too. It's not like they can't afford it (most folk carry a smartphone these days, while earning <$200 a month). 3. Rural India is generally way more hygienic than Urban India; apparently has a more even sex-ratio too. 4. I've spent time in villages from my childhood. I know why toilets were kept separated in the backyard, and why they've now moved closer home. Please don't give me the old "white saviour" line. Chomsky and his starlings may use this line with gusto, but the vacuity of it is readily apparent for those not afraid of not being fashionable. I also understand how the stupid policies of the state driven by such sentences of native courtiers, led to widespread agricultural failures, ridiculous price fluctuations and rural depopulation. Do you care ? No. 5. I've also seen homeless Americans poop on the streets. 6. I'm not a fan of the whole post-colonial affair of "white guilt" milking. If you do indeed care, please tell me something that's not religious. Your experience is not divine.

pessimist 10y ago
Let me address your points: 1. See the latest numbers heres: http://www.thehindu.com/data/most-of-rural-india-still-opts-for-open-defecation-nss-report/article8503947.ece http://www.thehindu.com/data/most-of-rural-india-still-opts-... I should have qualified "most" as "most of rural", sorry. Of course rural India is 70% of the population. 2, & 4, it is indeed true that people are choosing to poop in the fields out of choice and it "feels" more hygienic to people. But it is a misguided choice - likely a major cause of disease and childhood stunting - http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0073784 http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjourna.... btw, I am an urban middle class Indian too. Not white by any stretch of the imagination. And where I did I say the white man is the saviour? I just said that the plight of rural Indians is completely ignored by those who complain loudly about western media views of India. In fact I give full credit to the current government for raising awareness about toilets and trying to fix the issue.

pessimist 10y ago

Let me address your points: 1. See the latest numbers heres: http://www.thehindu.com/data/most-of-rural-india-still-opts-for-open-defecation-nss-report/article8503947.ece http://www.thehindu.com/data/most-of-rural-india-still-opts-... I should have qualified "most" as "most of rural", sorry. Of course rural India is 70% of the population. 2, & 4, it is indeed true that people are choosing to poop in the fields out of choice and it "feels" more hygienic to people. But it is a misguided choice - likely a major cause of disease and childhood stunting - http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0073784 http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjourna.... btw, I am an urban middle class Indian too. Not white by any stretch of the imagination. And where I did I say the white man is the saviour? I just said that the plight of rural Indians is completely ignored by those who complain loudly about western media views of India. In fact I give full credit to the current government for raising awareness about toilets and trying to fix the issue.