UNICEF launches campaign against open defecation in India
November 12, 2013 - With half of India's population defecating in the open, the United
Nations children’s fund, UNICEF on Monday launched 'Take Poo to Loo', an innovative
digital-led campaign focusing on youngsters to put an end to the practice. Through
interactive social media components like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube on-ground activations
across New Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad and Mumbai, the campaign aims to promote young participation
and create active advocates who can speak out against open defecation. Crafted
in quirky language, it has different tools such as games, mobile applications and
ringtones. In addition, to amplify the impact of the campaign a series of videos and
a song will be launched. The campaign protagonist - Poo - will be visiting public
places, colleges, schools and other places in the four cities during the three-month
long campaign. "In India, more than 620 million people defecate in the open, this
represents half of the population. The other half have become blind to the practice.
It is socially accepted norm," said Sue Coates, chief of UNICEF WASH (Water, Sanitation
and Hygiene), India. She says human excreta in the environment is a risk to all,
therefore, there is a need to raise voice. "A change is needed. Everyone has to consider
the practice as totally unacceptable. By creating a buzz, we aspire to put pressure
on all different actors in the society who need to act to make change happen," she
added. Initially, the UN agency through the campaign is targeting the urban young
people, who can speak out against the practice of open defecation and also influence
their communities, families, and peers to do the same. The UN agency is working with
civil society groups, corporate, institutions and key influencers to spread the word
about it. India has made tremendous progress in the provision and use of toilets
in the last 20 years, reducing the practice of open defecation from 75 percent of
the population in 1990, to 51 percent in 2010. Each year nearly 20 million people
start using toilets. However, India is still home to the world's largest population
of people who defecate in the open. While of the world’s seven billion people, six
billion have mobile phones, one third of humanity (2.5 billion people) do not have
access to proper sanitation, including toilets or latrines, with dramatic consequences
on human health, dignity and security, the environment, and social and economic development.
The UNICEF campaign was launched ahead of the UN’s first World Toilet Day, Nov. 19,
that focuses on the need for sanitation and water. (Source: Zee)