Why We Need To Talk About Our Poop | Rushva Parihar | TEDxBandra

I work in rural sanitation most of you

I work in rural sanitation most of you might think that this is an important

might think that this is an important

might think that this is an important challenge to tackle but how many of you

challenge to tackle but how many of you

challenge to tackle but how many of you can really tell me why is it so

can really tell me why is it so

can really tell me why is it so important as a researcher one of the

important as a researcher one of the

important as a researcher one of the things that drives me is this question

things that drives me is this question

things that drives me is this question of why and how do I address it so what

of why and how do I address it so what

of why and how do I address it so what I’m going to talk to you about today is

I’m going to talk to you about today is

I’m going to talk to you about today is derived from my work at une merit and

derived from my work at une merit and

derived from my work at une merit and finn india why sanitation important

finn india why sanitation important

finn india why sanitation important access to sanitation hasn’t recognized

access to sanitation hasn’t recognized

access to sanitation hasn’t recognized as a basic human right which means that

as a basic human right which means that

as a basic human right which means that people have the right to have access to

people have the right to have access to

people have the right to have access to a toilet in order to relieve themselves

a toilet in order to relieve themselves

a toilet in order to relieve themselves but sanitation is important for more

but sanitation is important for more

but sanitation is important for more reasons than just being a human right

reasons than just being a human right

reasons than just being a human right inadequate sanitation has a significant

inadequate sanitation has a significant

inadequate sanitation has a significant impact on health it’s linked to

impact on health it’s linked to

impact on health it’s linked to diarrheal disease the spread of

diarrheal disease the spread of

diarrheal disease the spread of vector-borne diseases like malaria

vector-borne diseases like malaria

vector-borne diseases like malaria typhoid and cholera and other parasitic

typhoid and cholera and other parasitic

typhoid and cholera and other parasitic diseases in 2011 UNICEF estimated that

diseases in 2011 UNICEF estimated that

diseases in 2011 UNICEF estimated that around seven hundred and sixty thousand

around seven hundred and sixty thousand

around seven hundred and sixty thousand children under the age of five are dying

children under the age of five are dying

children under the age of five are dying every day due to diarrheal disease India

every day due to diarrheal disease India

every day due to diarrheal disease India accounted for 24 percent of those deaths

accounted for 24 percent of those deaths

accounted for 24 percent of those deaths which means one hundred and eighty two

which means one hundred and eighty two

which means one hundred and eighty two thousand four hundred children under the

thousand four hundred children under the

thousand four hundred children under the age of five are dying every day ninety

age of five are dying every day ninety

age of five are dying every day ninety percent of these deaths are directly

percent of these deaths are directly

percent of these deaths are directly linked to contaminated water lack of

linked to contaminated water lack of

linked to contaminated water lack of sanitation and inadequate hygiene

according to the World Bank the

according to the World Bank the estimated cost of inadequate sanitation

estimated cost of inadequate sanitation

estimated cost of inadequate sanitation to India is 54 billion dollars a year so

to India is 54 billion dollars a year so

to India is 54 billion dollars a year so now you might understand slightly why

now you might understand slightly why

now you might understand slightly why sanitation is so important but sitting

sanitation is so important but sitting

sanitation is so important but sitting here you might think you know what

here you might think you know what

here you might think you know what still doesn’t affect me let me paint you

still doesn’t affect me let me paint you

still doesn’t affect me let me paint you a little picture you’re standing on

a little picture you’re standing on

a little picture you’re standing on marine drive in the monsoons and the

marine drive in the monsoons and the

marine drive in the monsoons and the waves are splashing up at you and you’re

waves are splashing up at you and you’re

waves are splashing up at you and you’re enjoying yourselves seems like a great

enjoying yourselves seems like a great

enjoying yourselves seems like a great escape from the heat that’s outside let

escape from the heat that’s outside let

escape from the heat that’s outside let me enhance that picture for you little

me enhance that picture for you little

me enhance that picture for you little bit mixed in the waves a tiny particles

bit mixed in the waves a tiny particles

bit mixed in the waves a tiny particles of fecal matter and what is that

of fecal matter and what is that

of fecal matter and what is that essentially it’s

essentially it’s

essentially it’s other people’s party so scientist is

other people’s party so scientist is

other people’s party so scientist is important when we think of when we think

important when we think of when we think

important when we think of when we think of sanitation in our homes we think of a

of sanitation in our homes we think of a

of sanitation in our homes we think of a bathroom but from our homes in the

bathroom but from our homes in the

bathroom but from our homes in the bathrooms all that fecal matter or

bathrooms all that fecal matter or

bathrooms all that fecal matter or sewage is taken to seven different

sewage is taken to seven different

sewage is taken to seven different treatment plants around Mumbai where

treatment plants around Mumbai where

treatment plants around Mumbai where they are treated in the light our

they are treated in the light our

they are treated in the light our tendency urban India generates

tendency urban India generates

tendency urban India generates approximately 63 thousand million litres

approximately 63 thousand million litres

approximately 63 thousand million litres of sewage a day where we have the

of sewage a day where we have the

of sewage a day where we have the treatment capacity of only about 23,000

treatment capacity of only about 23,000

treatment capacity of only about 23,000 so 63 percent of our sewage is not

so 63 percent of our sewage is not

so 63 percent of our sewage is not treated or not treated effectively

treated or not treated effectively

treated or not treated effectively before it is let out into water bodies

before it is let out into water bodies

before it is let out into water bodies like rivers lakes and seas this affects

like rivers lakes and seas this affects

like rivers lakes and seas this affects not only our lives but also the lives of

not only our lives but also the lives of

not only our lives but also the lives of all the organisms that live there in

all the organisms that live there in

all the organisms that live there in 2015 the United Nations adopted a new

2015 the United Nations adopted a new

2015 the United Nations adopted a new agenda for development and shined in the

agenda for development and shined in the

agenda for development and shined in the sustainable development goals these 17

sustainable development goals these 17

sustainable development goals these 17 goals are a road map to where our world

goals are a road map to where our world

goals are a road map to where our world can be in 2030 sanitation is an

can be in 2030 sanitation is an

can be in 2030 sanitation is an important aspect of these goals most

important aspect of these goals most

important aspect of these goals most directly linked to goal number 6 which

directly linked to goal number 6 which

directly linked to goal number 6 which is access to water and sanitation

is access to water and sanitation

is access to water and sanitation there is also linked to a number of

there is also linked to a number of

there is also linked to a number of these number of other goals like poverty

these number of other goals like poverty

these number of other goals like poverty hunger health education gender

hunger health education gender

hunger health education gender inequality clean energy sustainable

inequality clean energy sustainable

inequality clean energy sustainable cities and life under water so too safe

cities and life under water so too safe

cities and life under water so too safe to say that a push towards sanitation is

to say that a push towards sanitation is

to say that a push towards sanitation is going to be a push towards a number of

going to be a push towards a number of

going to be a push towards a number of these goals in 2015 564 million people

these goals in 2015 564 million people

these goals in 2015 564 million people lack access to basic sanitation

lack access to basic sanitation

lack access to basic sanitation facilities in India and defecated in the

facilities in India and defecated in the

facilities in India and defecated in the open this means at about a hundred

open this means at about a hundred

open this means at about a hundred thousand tons of poop ended up in the

thousand tons of poop ended up in the

thousand tons of poop ended up in the open every day how much is one hundred

open every day how much is one hundred

open every day how much is one hundred thousand tons it seems like a big number

thousand tons it seems like a big number

thousand tons it seems like a big number it’s enough to fill up Wembley Stadium

it’s enough to fill up Wembley Stadium

it’s enough to fill up Wembley Stadium completely every day this much poop

completely every day this much poop

completely every day this much poop so it’s safe to say that it’s a genuine

so it’s safe to say that it’s a genuine

so it’s safe to say that it’s a genuine health problem so in order to achieve

health problem so in order to achieve

health problem so in order to achieve SDG six we must move towards eliminating

SDG six we must move towards eliminating

SDG six we must move towards eliminating open defecation but what I’ve come to

open defecation but what I’ve come to

open defecation but what I’ve come to realize in my travels around India and

realize in my travels around India and

realize in my travels around India and my work in rural India is that it’s not

my work in rural India is that it’s not

my work in rural India is that it’s not as simple as just building toilets

as simple as just building toilets

as simple as just building toilets I’ve often gone to villages where I see

I’ve often gone to villages where I see

I’ve often gone to villages where I see toilets and houses and people are still

toilets and houses and people are still

toilets and houses and people are still defecating in the open these toilets are

defecating in the open these toilets are

defecating in the open these toilets are being used for as chicken coops or as

being used for as chicken coops or as

being used for as chicken coops or as storage units or utility closets and

storage units or utility closets and

storage units or utility closets and when I ask people you know you have a

when I ask people you know you have a

when I ask people you know you have a toilet

toilet

toilet why are you defecating in the open the

why are you defecating in the open the

why are you defecating in the open the most common response I have gotten is

most common response I have gotten is

most common response I have gotten is it’s too congested in there you know we

it’s too congested in there you know we

it’s too congested in there you know we like the open breeze when we are pooping

like the open breeze when we are pooping

like the open breeze when we are pooping so people need to be educated as to why

so people need to be educated as to why

so people need to be educated as to why they must use a toilet and they also we

they must use a toilet and they also we

they must use a toilet and they also we need to ensure that we with people take

need to ensure that we with people take

need to ensure that we with people take responsibility and ownership of these

responsibility and ownership of these

responsibility and ownership of these toilets in order to ensure that they are

toilets in order to ensure that they are

toilets in order to ensure that they are being used so when we think of a toilet

being used so when we think of a toilet

being used so when we think of a toilet we in the cities just think of a commode

we in the cities just think of a commode

we in the cities just think of a commode but everywhere else where there is no

but everywhere else where there is no

but everywhere else where there is no sewage system it’s not so simple the

sewage system it’s not so simple the

sewage system it’s not so simple the toilets also need to be able to process

toilets also need to be able to process

toilets also need to be able to process the fecal matter so predominantly there

the fecal matter so predominantly there

the fecal matter so predominantly there are three types of toilets that are

are three types of toilets that are

are three types of toilets that are being built around India the first looks

being built around India the first looks

being built around India the first looks something like this it’s a pit latrine

something like this it’s a pit latrine

something like this it’s a pit latrine so it’s a six-foot lined pit where

so it’s a six-foot lined pit where

so it’s a six-foot lined pit where people defecate and the fecal matter

people defecate and the fecal matter

people defecate and the fecal matter collects over time the liquid components

collects over time the liquid components

collects over time the liquid components leach out of this pit and the solid

leach out of this pit and the solid

leach out of this pit and the solid components turn into compost now if this

components turn into compost now if this

components turn into compost now if this pit is not built correctly or if it’s

pit is not built correctly or if it’s

pit is not built correctly or if it’s built say too close to a water body or

built say too close to a water body or

built say too close to a water body or too close to the groundwater table this

too close to the groundwater table this

too close to the groundwater table this leaching liquid components are going to

leaching liquid components are going to

leaching liquid components are going to get into the water and contaminate it so

get into the water and contaminate it so

get into the water and contaminate it so then all the water that we are going to

then all the water that we are going to

then all the water that we are going to be drinking it’s going to have little

be drinking it’s going to have little

be drinking it’s going to have little pieces of poop in it the second type of

pieces of poop in it the second type of

pieces of poop in it the second type of toilet is called a septic tank here

toilet is called a septic tank here

toilet is called a septic tank here there’s a chamber that processes the

there’s a chamber that processes the

there’s a chamber that processes the fecal matter before it’s left out but

fecal matter before it’s left out but

fecal matter before it’s left out but what remains in this chamber something

what remains in this chamber something

what remains in this chamber something called fecal sludge we need to ensure

called fecal sludge we need to ensure

called fecal sludge we need to ensure this thing is with the fecal sludge

this thing is with the fecal sludge

this thing is with the fecal sludge needs to be taken out periodically and

needs to be taken out periodically and

needs to be taken out periodically and disposed of safely if the chamber is not

disposed of safely if the chamber is not

disposed of safely if the chamber is not built correctly when it’s a month when

built correctly when it’s a month when

built correctly when it’s a month when it’s monsoon season and there’s heavy

it’s monsoon season and there’s heavy

it’s monsoon season and there’s heavy rains rainwater can enter this chamber

rains rainwater can enter this chamber

rains rainwater can enter this chamber causing it to overflow and contaminating

causing it to overflow and contaminating

causing it to overflow and contaminating all the soil around it the third type of

all the soil around it the third type of

all the soil around it the third type of toilet that is being built is not very

toilet that is being built is not very

toilet that is being built is not very common but it’s built it’s called an eco

common but it’s built it’s called an eco

common but it’s built it’s called an eco sign it’s called a urine diversion

sign it’s called a urine diversion

sign it’s called a urine diversion toilet here it requires a significant

toilet here it requires a significant

toilet here it requires a significant change in behavior among the users there

change in behavior among the users there

change in behavior among the users there are separate places to urinate and

are separate places to urinate and

are separate places to urinate and separate places to defecate and no water

separate places to defecate and no water

separate places to defecate and no water is used in this model the fecal matter

is used in this model the fecal matter

is used in this model the fecal matter devoid of any water or urine compost

devoid of any water or urine compost

devoid of any water or urine compost within nine months and then can be taken

within nine months and then can be taken

within nine months and then can be taken out and used as a fertilizer for crops

out and used as a fertilizer for crops

out and used as a fertilizer for crops the urine and waste water can then be

the urine and waste water can then be

the urine and waste water can then be treated and use variegation purposes

India is a country of vast and varying

India is a country of vast and varying geographies which means a

geographies which means a

geographies which means a one-size-fits-all model does not always

one-size-fits-all model does not always

one-size-fits-all model does not always work for sanitation in India we need to

work for sanitation in India we need to

work for sanitation in India we need to ensure that the toilets that we are

ensure that the toilets that we are

ensure that the toilets that we are building are non-contaminated which

building are non-contaminated which

building are non-contaminated which means that they’re not acting as points

means that they’re not acting as points

means that they’re not acting as points of contamination for our water bodies

of contamination for our water bodies

of contamination for our water bodies and our soil we don’t solve the problem

and our soil we don’t solve the problem

and our soil we don’t solve the problem of open defecation today only to create

of open defecation today only to create

of open defecation today only to create a much bigger problem of contaminated

a much bigger problem of contaminated

a much bigger problem of contaminated groundwater and soil in the

groundwater and soil in the

groundwater and soil in the not-so-distant future

we in the cities of access to sanitation

we in the cities of access to sanitation for a long time so you know we may think

for a long time so you know we may think

for a long time so you know we may think that you know we’re going we’re going

that you know we’re going we’re going

that you know we’re going we’re going the right way but that’s not really true

the right way but that’s not really true

the right way but that’s not really true because we think of sanitation with the

because we think of sanitation with the

because we think of sanitation with the limited view of having only access to a

limited view of having only access to a

limited view of having only access to a toilet we’re not in the best shape

toilet we’re not in the best shape

toilet we’re not in the best shape either in February this year the largest

either in February this year the largest

either in February this year the largest leak in Bangalore City caught fire the

leak in Bangalore City caught fire the

leak in Bangalore City caught fire the fire burned for 12 hours in the middle

fire burned for 12 hours in the middle

fire burned for 12 hours in the middle of a leak that covered 890 acres

of a leak that covered 890 acres

of a leak that covered 890 acres scientists from Indian Institute of

scientists from Indian Institute of

scientists from Indian Institute of Science estimated around 500 million

Science estimated around 500 million

Science estimated around 500 million litres of sewage untreated sewage is

litres of sewage untreated sewage is

litres of sewage untreated sewage is dumped into the sleep every day which

dumped into the sleep every day which

dumped into the sleep every day which caused me Ian to build up which then

caused me Ian to build up which then

caused me Ian to build up which then caught fire if we continue on this path

caught fire if we continue on this path

caught fire if we continue on this path towards development without any concern

towards development without any concern

towards development without any concern for the environment we are going to be

for the environment we are going to be

for the environment we are going to be heading towards a severe water crisis

heading towards a severe water crisis

heading towards a severe water crisis and the state of our villages will not

and the state of our villages will not

and the state of our villages will not be very different from that of our

be very different from that of our

be very different from that of our cities where we produce more waste than

cities where we produce more waste than

cities where we produce more waste than we can manage contaminated water sources

we can manage contaminated water sources

we can manage contaminated water sources and have severe health problems the

and have severe health problems the

and have severe health problems the scenes that are depicted in Mad Max are

scenes that are depicted in Mad Max are

scenes that are depicted in Mad Max are actually not so far from a reality that

actually not so far from a reality that

actually not so far from a reality that we are heading towards so we need to

we are heading towards so we need to

we are heading towards so we need to ensure and find new ways to conserve

ensure and find new ways to conserve

ensure and find new ways to conserve water but we also need to find and

water but we also need to find and

water but we also need to find and ensure that the sources that we do have

ensure that the sources that we do have

ensure that the sources that we do have remain free of contamination

now sanitation therefore is very rightly

now sanitation therefore is very rightly put on the top of the development agenda

put on the top of the development agenda

put on the top of the development agenda for India 9,000 crores were lauded to

for India 9,000 crores were lauded to

for India 9,000 crores were lauded to the swachh bharat mission in last year’s

the swachh bharat mission in last year’s

the swachh bharat mission in last year’s budget a significant portion of that was

budget a significant portion of that was

budget a significant portion of that was to build toilets but building toilets is

to build toilets but building toilets is

to build toilets but building toilets is not is not so simple as I’ve just

not is not so simple as I’ve just

not is not so simple as I’ve just explained to you these toilets need to

explained to you these toilets need to

explained to you these toilets need to be you need to make sure the tourists

be you need to make sure the tourists

be you need to make sure the tourists are being built and non contaminating we

are being built and non contaminating we

are being built and non contaminating we also have excellent Masons in our

also have excellent Masons in our

also have excellent Masons in our country by building toilets is a new

country by building toilets is a new

country by building toilets is a new exercise for them so district level

exercise for them so district level

exercise for them so district level training workshops may be set up to

training workshops may be set up to

training workshops may be set up to ensure that these Mason’s are not

ensure that these Mason’s are not

ensure that these Mason’s are not building the wrong kinds of toilets

building the wrong kinds of toilets

building the wrong kinds of toilets in the most in one of our most recent

in the most in one of our most recent

in the most in one of our most recent studies we found that 45% of the toilets

studies we found that 45% of the toilets

studies we found that 45% of the toilets that were being built were abandoned in

that were being built were abandoned in

that were being built were abandoned in two years because they were in desperate

two years because they were in desperate

two years because they were in desperate need for repair

need for repair

need for repair so while we are working towards

so while we are working towards

so while we are working towards providing access to those 564 million

providing access to those 564 million

providing access to those 564 million people in India that did not have it we

people in India that did not have it we

people in India that did not have it we would also ensure that the access that

would also ensure that the access that

would also ensure that the access that we are providing them is sustained and

we are providing them is sustained and

we are providing them is sustained and so repair and maintenance agencies need

so repair and maintenance agencies need

so repair and maintenance agencies need to be set up now to deal with these

to be set up now to deal with these

to be set up now to deal with these problems as they occur finally while

problems as they occur finally while

problems as they occur finally while talking about sustainability we need to

talking about sustainability we need to

talking about sustainability we need to this watch for admission also needs to

this watch for admission also needs to

this watch for admission also needs to take into account the city’s sewage and

take into account the city’s sewage and

take into account the city’s sewage and fecal sludge now companies are very very

fecal sludge now companies are very very

fecal sludge now companies are very very dedicated towards achieving this goal

dedicated towards achieving this goal

dedicated towards achieving this goal yeah two thousand crores was spent since

yeah two thousand crores was spent since

yeah two thousand crores was spent since 2014 as part of corporate social

2014 as part of corporate social

2014 as part of corporate social responsibility programs to just build

responsibility programs to just build

responsibility programs to just build toilets but you know building toilets

toilets but you know building toilets

toilets but you know building toilets it’s just it’s not enough more time and

it’s just it’s not enough more time and

it’s just it’s not enough more time and energy needs to be spent in educating

energy needs to be spent in educating

energy needs to be spent in educating people on why they must use them because

people on why they must use them because

people on why they must use them because without that building toilets is a

without that building toilets is a

without that building toilets is a futile exercise this small recalibration

futile exercise this small recalibration

futile exercise this small recalibration into looking at CSR programs will take

into looking at CSR programs will take

into looking at CSR programs will take us forward leaps and bounds in achieving

us forward leaps and bounds in achieving

us forward leaps and bounds in achieving this goal these focus areas are not just

this goal these focus areas are not just

this goal these focus areas are not just you know points to bond it on for

you know points to bond it on for

you know points to bond it on for companies and policy makers but it’s

companies and policy makers but it’s

companies and policy makers but it’s also opportunities opportunities for

also opportunities opportunities for

also opportunities opportunities for social entrepreneurs who are working

social entrepreneurs who are working

social entrepreneurs who are working towards achieving development in India

towards achieving development in India

towards achieving development in India and sustainable development in India

and sustainable development in India

and sustainable development in India over the last few years I’ve had the

over the last few years I’ve had the

over the last few years I’ve had the immense pleasure of working with some

immense pleasure of working with some

immense pleasure of working with some fantastic social entrepreneurs who are

fantastic social entrepreneurs who are

fantastic social entrepreneurs who are addressing different aspects of this

addressing different aspects of this

addressing different aspects of this goal from creating effective

goal from creating effective

goal from creating effective microorganisms that can speed up the

microorganisms that can speed up the

microorganisms that can speed up the composting process in the toilet

composting process in the toilet

composting process in the toilet chambers to creating finer interactive

chambers to creating finer interactive

chambers to creating finer interactive games that might make learning but why

games that might make learning but why

games that might make learning but why toilets is important fun

so Mike Michael is this we don’t talk

so Mike Michael is this we don’t talk about sanitation not among ourselves not

about sanitation not among ourselves not

about sanitation not among ourselves not to anybody it seems like a taboo subject

to anybody it seems like a taboo subject

to anybody it seems like a taboo subject to us so all of you need to start

to us so all of you need to start

to us so all of you need to start talking more about your and more

talking more about your and more

talking more about your and more about poop sanitation is a grand

about poop sanitation is a grand

about poop sanitation is a grand challenge and sewer needs to be tackled

challenge and sewer needs to be tackled

challenge and sewer needs to be tackled from multiple perspectives when

from multiple perspectives when

from multiple perspectives when different stakeholders get together and

different stakeholders get together and

different stakeholders get together and talk and initiate a dialogue we’ll be

talk and initiate a dialogue we’ll be

talk and initiate a dialogue we’ll be able to create long-term solutions for

able to create long-term solutions for

able to create long-term solutions for the sustainable goals so do not flush

the sustainable goals so do not flush

the sustainable goals so do not flush and forget think about what happens to

and forget think about what happens to

and forget think about what happens to your poop after the toilet it might seem

your poop after the toilet it might seem

your poop after the toilet it might seem like something y’all don’t want to do

like something y’all don’t want to do

like something y’all don’t want to do but it is important that you all do so

but it is important that you all do so

but it is important that you all do so because this is important not only for

because this is important not only for

because this is important not only for our cities but also for our villages

our cities but also for our villages

our cities but also for our villages thank you very much

thank you very much

thank you very much [Applause]