Accidentally, I engaged with a
gentleman who is civil servant while flying down to Nepalgunj from Jumla, June
2016. He concluded the talk, sorry madam, you were from Jumla, but it was so
dirty why? It was not a single question. The goers and not goers to Karnali and
far west, educated and uneducated, NGO workers etc. asked the same question: oh
so much flies, too dirty, got sick etc. I observed flies everywhere in the
world, just a matter of degrees. Simply, flies multiply or attract with dirt.
According to the government’s report 2011, the far and mid-western development
regions have the least sanitation coverage (30%).
While walking through villages to villages of western Nepal, I
was warmly welcome in to the Open Defecation Free (ODF) village or area. It is
portrayed with slogans, songs, statements that is highly appreciated. It was
not strange because the facebook wall and newspapers often occupied by the
photos and news of ODF declaration and various announcement at local, national
and international levels by scholars. The state and non-state actors are
working tirelessly in order to achieve the goal ‘to attain universal access to improved sanitation by 2017 for better
hygiene, health and environment.’ The improved sanitation is defined by
joint monitoring program of UNICEF, WHO, ‘one
that hygienically separates human excreta from human contact, classified as
flush or pour flush (piped sewer or septic tank or pit Latrine), ventilated
improved latrine, pit toilet with slab and lid and composting toilet (eco-san).
Data shows that the toilet coverage in urban areas is 78 %
against the rural coverage of only 37%. Due to many actors, the paper might
have higher percentage of coverage. But the ground is differing with it. There
could be toilets but not used because it is not friendly in many ways such as very
tiny and narrow, hard to use even for the 40 KG, 4.8’’ person, no door, no
ventilation, no water, no soap, covered by flies, bad smell etc. More
importantly, the open defecation is rampant. Sadly, the school neither have
toilet nor water. The 35 years back neither state, nor school, nor non-state
actors talk about ODF so it was fine to use toilet or beyond according to
context but today we all seek something different result. |
| School's septic tank at Bhi village, Mugu |
 |
| School Urinal, Bhi Village, Mugu |
Why do we need such ODF program? If it is for health, hygiene
and environment, are such approaches work out in rural context? Are the
stakeholders really like to break the vicious cycle of hygiene and health? By
considering the rural context, it is hard to believe that the stakeholders are
really working aggressively for it. Because the hygiene is deteriorating or
flies increase due to i) having animal shed at same house in traditional
manner, ii) no management for the dung of donkey, horse, goats which are used
for the means of transport (they eat grains as human so it was like human excreta),
iii) no or limited water supply and vi) no single efforts to eradicate flies
yet. The many tea shops or so called hotels replied, you can go anywhere that
we have enough forest or land and they served with zero hygiene. They used and
served the water from river directly. The flies were made direct drive in to
the food. The children’s face almost covered by flies. The flies are so strong
and active, I guess. They are active even at night and interrupt sleep. Almost
all, know about the importance of handwashing and toilet even in the core rural
villages but they do have no way to get rid of it or circumstances is not
helping them out.
 |
| The blackspot next to her was the piles of flies |
From the observation and review of master plan of government
2011, the above mentioned barriers or challenges are not even recognised. It is
not because of the resources; it is due to poor mind set of the actors. Without
addressing underlying causes of growth of flies and sources of growth, could
Nepal reach its destination. Are the number of toilets ethical to claim for
achieving targets? The rural communities desensitised with such dirt and flies,
diseases by many reasons; they are helpless to overcome all issues by
themselves, dominated by the tradition that practised from ancestors and lack
of stimulus to get rid of such as no exposure or no realisation and severe
poverty where next meal is their priority as always. For tea shopper’s case,
they have money and food but they are same as others due to no one complained
or denied their service so they just do ignore. The individuals who complained
about dirt, or even the ODF campaigners stop by without a single question or
not like to take risk at all. It’s simply a matter of ethics and commitment for
transformation on issue where there they bread.
There are many practical and simple ways to overcome as well
as achieve the goals as follows; i) the animal shed should separate from house.
If there is limited land or no land, can go in collective animal shed and care
as doing at Ghaleghau, Lamjung, ii) could develop the innovative scheme or rule
to collect and formation of compost from the dung of horse, donkey and goats,
iii) there should manage water supply before talking the sanitation, v) should
start the activities e.g. spraying the insecticide as had done for Malaria
control and vi) the tea shoppers should come under common standard to serve as.
Otherwise, ODF is just a fashion and event or celebration for the job holders
or others NOT for the people.
Often people blamed rural communities in Kathmandu but its
great mistake indeed. Do the actors observe critically here in Kathmandu or
hotel on the highways? Aren’t these toilets important to achieve the goal of
2017. The toilets in neither restaurants nor government offices nor school are with
basic requirements. Mostly, these toilets broke, no water, no locker, common
for both sexes, narrow, dirty etc.
Many people often consider that toilet or hygiene is minor
issue but it is very big and serious concern in many ways. The toilet is
priority in developed countries where separate toilets, water supply, soap,
hand sanitised, and standby cleaners so they haven’t have communicable diseases
as Nepal has. Thus, ODF should considered beyond box and should go beyond
celebrations because it is a key block for prosperity of the country.
FYI: Forwarded to Kathmandu Post, written after field trip to Bajura, Humla, Mugu, Kalikot, Jumla, June 2016
