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India election 2019: Do more Indians than before have access to toilets? | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
India's BJP government has undertaken a highly ambitious project to build tens of millions of toilets across the country. | India's BJP government has undertaken a highly ambitious project to build tens of millions of toilets across the country. |
The practice of defecating in open places - in fields, waste ground or in rivers - has long been blamed for the spread of disease. | The practice of defecating in open places - in fields, waste ground or in rivers - has long been blamed for the spread of disease. |
It also puts women's safety at risk when they go out under cover of darkness to relieve themselves. | It also puts women's safety at risk when they go out under cover of darkness to relieve themselves. |
In the run-up to the Indian election, which gets under way on 11 April, BBC Reality Check is examining claims and pledges made by the main political parties. | In the run-up to the Indian election, which gets under way on 11 April, BBC Reality Check is examining claims and pledges made by the main political parties. |
Claim: India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, says that under his Clean India programme 90% of Indians now have access to a toilet, up from 40% before he came into office in 2014. | Claim: India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, says that under his Clean India programme 90% of Indians now have access to a toilet, up from 40% before he came into office in 2014. |
Verdict: It's true there's been a large increase in the number of household toilets built under the current government. But there's also evidence that for a variety of reasons, not all toilets are being used or are functioning properly. | Verdict: It's true there's been a large increase in the number of household toilets built under the current government. But there's also evidence that for a variety of reasons, not all toilets are being used or are functioning properly. |
The Clean India programme comes in two parts: | The Clean India programme comes in two parts: |
•Rural Clean India - aims to stop the practice of open defecation in villages by making toilets more accessible. | •Rural Clean India - aims to stop the practice of open defecation in villages by making toilets more accessible. |
•Urban Clean India - to ensure there are toilets in homes and public places and to manage solid waste disposal in cities. | •Urban Clean India - to ensure there are toilets in homes and public places and to manage solid waste disposal in cities. |
The available government data shows that by November 2018, 96.25% of homes had their own toilets. | The available government data shows that by November 2018, 96.25% of homes had their own toilets. |
This is up from 38.7% in October 2014. | This is up from 38.7% in October 2014. |
An independent survey carried out in rural areas between November 2017 and March 2018 found that 77% of rural households had access to toilets and 93.4 % of the people who had access to a toilet used them regularly. | An independent survey carried out in rural areas between November 2017 and March 2018 found that 77% of rural households had access to toilets and 93.4 % of the people who had access to a toilet used them regularly. |
The government's Clean India Mission says that 27 states and union territories out of 36 are now free from the practice of open defecation. | The government's Clean India Mission says that 27 states and union territories out of 36 are now free from the practice of open defecation. |
But while there is plenty of data on toilet construction, there are still questions about actual usage. | But while there is plenty of data on toilet construction, there are still questions about actual usage. |
Having a toilet installed in a household does not always mean it will be used, or that the practice of defecating in the open has stopped. | Having a toilet installed in a household does not always mean it will be used, or that the practice of defecating in the open has stopped. |
The government's main data-collecting body - the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) - reported that of those households getting new toilets in 2016, 5% were not being used and 3% had no connection to a water supply. | The government's main data-collecting body - the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) - reported that of those households getting new toilets in 2016, 5% were not being used and 3% had no connection to a water supply. |
The secretary for the Rural Clean India Mission, Parameswaran Iyer, has told the BBC that he believed things had improved since then. | The secretary for the Rural Clean India Mission, Parameswaran Iyer, has told the BBC that he believed things had improved since then. |
But there are a number of issues highlighted by official reports and NGO research: | But there are a number of issues highlighted by official reports and NGO research: |
As an example, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in 2015 that all government schools now had separate toilets for girls and boys. | As an example, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in 2015 that all government schools now had separate toilets for girls and boys. |
But according to the Annual Status of Education Report published in 2018, nearly 23% of government school toilets were not useable. | But according to the Annual Status of Education Report published in 2018, nearly 23% of government school toilets were not useable. |
Read more from Reality Check | Read more from Reality Check |
No more open defecation? | No more open defecation? |
BBC Marathi service did its own investigation in 2018 into the official assertion that the state of Maharasthra was free of open defecation. | BBC Marathi service did its own investigation in 2018 into the official assertion that the state of Maharasthra was free of open defecation. |
They found that 25% of households in one village did not have access to toilets, and were having to go to the toilet in the open. | They found that 25% of households in one village did not have access to toilets, and were having to go to the toilet in the open. |
Shortly after the BBC story was published, the local authorities provided more toilets. | Shortly after the BBC story was published, the local authorities provided more toilets. |
Other reports also throw into doubt government claims about ending open defecation. | Other reports also throw into doubt government claims about ending open defecation. |
For example, the state of Gujarat was declared free of open defecation on 2 October, 2017. | For example, the state of Gujarat was declared free of open defecation on 2 October, 2017. |
But almost a year later, an official audit said 29% households did not yet have toilets. | But almost a year later, an official audit said 29% households did not yet have toilets. |
Behavioural changes | Behavioural changes |
An important part of the government's programme is aimed at changing habits. | An important part of the government's programme is aimed at changing habits. |
This is harder to measure although anecdotal evidence suggests there are behavioural issues in some places. | This is harder to measure although anecdotal evidence suggests there are behavioural issues in some places. |
A local official in the state of Uttar Pradesh recently told the BBC: "People have constructed toilets, but still do not regard them as a part of the house. | A local official in the state of Uttar Pradesh recently told the BBC: "People have constructed toilets, but still do not regard them as a part of the house. |
"And in many homes, older people avoid using them as they don't find them comfortable enough." | "And in many homes, older people avoid using them as they don't find them comfortable enough." |
A survey published in January this year looked at this issue in four northern Indian states: Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. | A survey published in January this year looked at this issue in four northern Indian states: Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. |
It said that almost a quarter of people in households with latrines still defecated in the open. | It said that almost a quarter of people in households with latrines still defecated in the open. |
Read more from Reality Check | Read more from Reality Check |
Send us your questions | Send us your questions |
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