Insane Sanitation

Hello Reader, 


You can’t make love in public, you know, the Moral Police will belt the sh*t out of you, but you can certainly take a Sh*t, anywhere in India, publicly. I know it sounds horrible but is it not the truth? Facts say that about 600 million people in India still go for defecating in open. 

At the same time, we are also reaching Moon and Mars. Our astronauts are travelling to space. And on such long extra-terrestrial journeys, special care is taken for how the astronauts will use the loo. Great care is taken for the hygiene and good amount is spent for proper sanitation in outer-space. When we can take care of that, which takes place a lot lesser times, then why are we ignoring the millions who are still taking unhygienic ways for defecating? In fact, building a space toilet requires a lot more science and maths than building one on earth. You know, because of the anti-gravity, out-of-the-world problems. Though it is literally no rocket science, yet, we don’t see that happening too often. 

But, what we see happening too often is a row of people from village sitting, queued-up along the railway track for their morning reliefs, as the sun rises in the background, while you are on a beautiful train journey. What is taken in good humor, and is jokingly called “lota leke rail ki patri par jaana”, in India, is actually a serious issue. 

This has many ill effects on health. Especially children under the age of five, suffer a lot from such negligence. Lack of toilets in villages leads to open defecation which gives rise to diseases like Cholera and Diarrhoea, which easily spread among children. 

Another ill-effect which eats our civilized society is the dignity of women in village, who also have to go to the loo, in open. Ironically, in many villages in India, purdah system is followed, where a woman has to keep her head covered under a veil, so that other men do not check her out and mainly because of orthodox, family ordeals. And they allow their head-covered women to go out in open, with uncovered bottoms? Is it not wrong at so many levels? This issue has been neglected for many years and has been the culprit for many social crimes and mishaps too. 

Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi has also initiated this agenda of building and providing clean toilets in every village so as to bring an end to the issue of unhygienic ways of defecating. Along with this, private company DOMEX, which is well known for their sanitation products are a part of this project, running a programme called Domex Toilet Academy (DTA), helping to solve the issue for a long term wellness in Indian villages. (You can read more about it below)

And you and I can be a part of this programme by doing a simple task of clicking a mouse button. 

Click on the link and help Babli, the village girl, reach a nearby toilet, safely from the evil eyes of anti-social germs, unhealthy germs and the old, unwanted practices of unhygienic defecation. Each click contributes Rs 5 to the noble cause of making every Indian village free from open defecation. 

#ToiletForBabli

About The Domex Toilet Academy:

Domex, HUL’s flagship sanitation brand, currently runs the Domex Toilet Academy (DTA) programme. Domex Toilet Academy was launched on 19th November 2013. It aims to become a sustainable and long-term solution to provide sanitation that benefits the local community and helps stimulate the local economy. The Toilet Academy makes toilets accessible and affordable, while promoting the benefits of clean toilets & good hygiene. Our effort has resulted in bringing the change in the villages of Maharashtra and Orissa and we aim to build 24000 toilets by 2015 in rural areas faced with the problem of open defecation.  

You can bring about the change in the lives of millions of kids, thereby showing your support for the Domex Initiative. All you need to do is “click” on the “Contribute Tab” on www.domex.in and Domex will contribute Rs.5 on your behalf to eradicate open defecation, thereby helping kids like Babli live a dignified life.

- Ashish

Thank You Indiblogger 

and Domex for this Idea. 

Image Sources:

1. http://www.wsp.org/sites/wsp.org/files/images/wsp-cartoon-calendar-May-2013.jpg

2. https://www.indiblogger.in/happyhours/toilet-for-babli/#submission_ideas

3. http://lowres.cartoonstock.com/health-beauty-astronaut-toilet-toilet_rolls-space_age-problem-mgtn247_low.jpg

 

Haider: A Two-face-ed Coin

Hello Reader,

Hello.. Hello.. Hello..

I watched the movie Haider and as I walked out of the theatre, I thought, "Oh! what a piece of art". I totally loved the strong, competent acting, beautiful cinematography and the music. The portrayal of Shakespeare's Hamlet, which I ardently awaited after Vishal Bharadwaj's previous two adaptations of Shakespeare's works: Othello (Omkara) and Macbeth (Maqbool), which were both beautifully crafted and I enjoyed them both as a lover of art. 

And then came Haider, which I equally loved. It stayed on my mind for a day or two and I accepted it as a good heartfelt story which I would like to have in my movie collection someday. But, a few articles and tweets, with #boycotthaider hash-tags, had me take a look-back and rekindled my interest in the subject which the movie dealt with. Yes, it was not just a Shakespearean adaptation, it was written on the backdrop of a very intense Kashmir issue. Had it been just a drama, may be shot in the Kashmir valley with a few romantic duet songs around the maple trees and snowfall and Shikara, things would have been cooler. But no, it captured the cold heartedness of humans, I would neither say the Indian Army, nor the separatists.

I recently read a post by an ex-Indian Army-man, who has expertly commented on the movie and has quoted all the little references and scenes where the movie depicts the Anti-Indian analogy. Being an army man he has seen the reality, been a part of it and he has penned down his version of the story, has shown the other side of the movie Haider. His post really moved me and only a war hero could point out those details, only a true Indian could. It also made me rethink about my own positive review for the movie. In this post, he has specified the scenes and the oblique approach of the co-writer of the movie Basharat Peer towards the separatists, who is known for his articles on Kashmir conflict. I have shared a link to the article below. 

After reading this article, I also thought how many people would have actually noticed those references, those depictions? For many, it would have been just another movie, which they would forget the very next day, once their own first-world-problems strikes them in their everyday routine. How many of them would have known that the ruins, where Shahid danced like a demon, in the 'Bismil' song, was once a Hindu Temple? Even if Basharat Peer was trying to convey the message loud and clear through those depictions, how many would have understood what he was trying to yell, in his silent voice? We have a majority of ignorant audience who would not understand until and unless a story is fed to them with the complete background of who is who. I did overhear people say "What a boring movie!" as the credits rolled and a couple youngsters recently discussing "Haider mein heroine kaun hai? Wahi aashiqui 2 waali?" . They definitely did not care a penny about the art or the depictions. Majority demands unsubtle entertainment. Only people to hate the movie would be a few Army men, who literally give up everything for their motherland, a few pseudo-nationalists and Bollywood freaks who just love the part where Sunny Deol kills all Pakistanis with a bazooka. 

But then, I thought that even if the movie did show the cruelty of Indian Army on the separatists, is it not something they have done?
Before you accuse me of anything, let me put it in this way: We have seen movies on Bhagat Singh and Chandrashekhar Azad, where they go against the British, we accepted that, we have seen movies like Border and LOC Kargil which gave us a glimpse of the war our brave soldiers fought and won, we accepted that too.  Then why can't we accept this? The Indian Army (AFSPA) punished them because they were involved in illegal acts. It is a just story told from the other side. A personal story. Story of a young boy, Haider, who lost his father, in a war which was far away from his usual life. He became a part of it because the majority of people were a part of it. I think the movie doesn't blame anybody. 

If there are a hundred people and you separate them into two teams and give each team a coloured flag, representing their own teams and incept in their minds that anyone found with the opponent colour flag should be killed, they will kill. They will go on killing. And in future, they would not even ask for a reason. Only killing, is what they will remember. They will not bother to know the history, at least not all of them. Under any skin, under any flag, under any colour, human remains a human. 

And I think, the movie ended on a positive message that "Intekam se sirf Intekam paida hota hai", that is all the audience should take home with them. And moreover, as Indians, we all know how much efforts are put up by our Army, every day, round the year so that peace is maintained all over the country and in the catastrophic situations which unfortunately occur. And a three hour movie, be it any strong, written with whatever intention, can never change our minds, our love and respect for Indian Army. 

To agree or not to agree - totally your choice. 

Ashish

Link to the Article:
A Soldier Reviews 'Haider' movie

Diwali: Over the years

Happy Diwali Reader,

 

Here I am, sitting in a small cubicle, staring at a screen which if I don’t, will also make no big difference to the world. So, for a tiny break, I pause to write this as I peep outside of the distant window at this time in the dusk, I already see the sky lightening up by the flowery crackers. The sky outside is different today. It is unusual unlike the ambience inside this room, which looks exactly the same every day.

 

This sky reminds me of the good times, of my halcyon days when the only major issue of this day was whether the crackers would long last till the night. It was also the time when all my family members, scattered all around the country, gathered to celebrate this in all good spirits. With all the shopping, gifts, sweets, new cloths, lights, lamps and colors, of the Rangoli and the good old family jokes, Diwali was complete. Really, I  mean, if Sooraj Barjatya witnessed those Diwalis with us, the togetherness of the family would have definitely made him write a sequel to Hum Saath Saath Hain.

 The preparation of this day always began well in advance. Of course, there are so many things to buy after all. The most important of them, lights: Chinese running lights, to decorate the whole house with, candles, clay lamplights and Crackers. Yes, crackers which came in colorful boxes with pictures of Bollywood actors or Superheroes. I miss those big Bazaars, the stalls which were put up every year. They did offer great discounts too.

 

For all day long, under the bright sun, we used to keep the crackers on the terrace to dry up. No trace of dampness was allowed to hurdle our fun on the Diwali night.

 

In all our bright new cloths, we would first perform the traditional Lakshmi Pooja. After which, the ladies placed the lamplights in every corner of the house. And, then the fireworks used to begin.  The biggest cracker was always preserved for the grand finale. The last cracker to burn would be the most unique of all, which lasts for the longest.

 

The Diwali hangover used to continue even after our schools reopened, when I met my friends after the vacation and discuss and boast how many and which all crackers each one of us burnt. Someone would say, “Oh! I burnt a chain of 1000” and someone else would say,”That’s all! Dude, I burnt a 5000”.

 

What I miss the most these days is the get-togethers, and receiving mails or greeting cards, full of good wishes.  

  

And this year, I will wish that people actually celebrate Diwali in their true spirits and may “Happy Diwali” don’t end up to be a mere facebook or whatsapp message.

 

Have a safe and an awesome Diwali.

- Ashish


GharwaliDiwali

#PepsiCo #GharwaliDiwali

Image Courtesy:
www.beginningwithi.com
canadianimmigrant.ca

A School of Hope

A current article from UNICEF says that India is now a Polio-Free nation, which is a proud conquest. A few years ago, there was a Hope that someday we shall witness one such morning. And because of the optimistic attempts that followed, today, we have achieved it. Awareness played a major role to reach this milestone. Had it not been put on big banners, hoardings and celebrities appearing in Television and Radio ads to promote the Polio Camps, it would have been really difficult to reach out to the remotest of the rural areas and tell them how important those two drops are.

But, there are many more milestones to be achieved before we rest. Do we not want to see poverty vanished from our country?

And, once again, joining hands together and not letting down the high hopes in our minds, we can make that happen as well.

One valuable weapon to fight poverty is Education. Education is as important as those two drops of Polio are to a child. It is only because of the lack of education that one illiterate man doesn’t send his children to school, because he finds it to be the reason behind his children’s illness. Those children will remain uneducated. Those children will never have a better life; they will never know how far their hands can reach; they will accept their depravity; they will remain in the bubble of delusion and they will never know that the school was never the actual reason behind their illness.

Even after years of Independence, many rural areas are still in need of a proper school building. Unless, the children, who are the future of our country, are educated, how can we dream of a brighter tomorrow?

Many children are not allowed to enter the school just because of the lower and higher class differences. How is that justified? Everyone has the right to be educated. And even if the government is failing to provide us with the minimum necessary needs, let us not waste time in blaming them or waiting for them to move a stone.

Instead, let us join hands to help some of the visionaries who have already taken the first step in doing so.  I am supporting Mr. Suresh, who is an educator and runs a school named Jnana jyothi Public School, located in a village called Devanhalli Taluka, Karnataka, with 250 children and 10 teachers. He has asked an organization called Milaap to extend a loan for the repair work and renovation of the school as they are short of some funds.

So, if you want to be a part of this Hope Project, you can click on this link to know more about this project and lend some help to them.

Lend Help

This is a small step we can all take to help a few children get proper education. And one of them might discover the cure to one of the lethal diseases or invent the next big thing or be another great visionary.

Trust me, doing this will give you real happiness. 

Thank You
Milaap and IndiBlogger
for this good cause. 

-Ashish

Food for Education

The Akshaya Patra Foundation believes that no child should be denied an education because of hunger. It is because of this belief that the Bangalore children's charity started providing mid-day meals to government school children across the country. This child NGO Bangalore currently feeds over 1.3 million children across India every day, and is on the mission to feed 5 million by 2020. But like other charity organizations in Bangalore, Akshaya Patra relies on the help of donors to achieve its goal.

The Bangalore children's charity is present in 20 locations across 9 states in India, covering 10,050 government schools in total. This child NGO Bangalore, has six kitchens in Karnataka, two of which are in Bangalore. The kitchen at H.K Hill was the first kitchen to be opened by Akshaya Patra in 2000, while the Vasanthapura kitchen was opened in 2007. This Bangalore children's charity feeds a total of 460,046 children in Karnataka.

In a recently concluded survey on the state-wise mid-day meals ranking, this child NGO Bangalore was proud to find that Karnataka was the highest amongst the states with an implementation rate of 77.79 per cent. In coordination with other charity organizations in Bangalore and the state, this Bangalore children's charity has contributed significantly towards helping Karnataka achieve this standing through its six kitchens across the state.

The good work that this child NGO Bangalore achieves is noteworthy. The Bangalore children's charity reaches out to 2,627 government schools in Karnataka and is one of the charity organizations in Bangalore to hold itself up to high standards of quality in both produce and processes. Therefore, all six of the kitchens run by this child NGO Bangalore are centralised kitchen units, while four of the six are ISO22000:2005 certified.

The Vasanthapura kitchen of this Bangalore children's charity has been a hub of innovation with the launch of a food lab on its premises. Here the raw material analysis of pulses, spices, vegetable oils, ghee and flour are undertaken to check against adulteration and colouring agents. Akshaya Patra is one of the charity organizations of Bangalore to strive towards innovation, improvement and expertise at all times.

Safety is at the top of minds of this Bangalore children's charity. At every step of the operations process, across all the kitchens, this child NGO Bangalore ensures that only clean, hygienic processes are in play. From the procurement of the raw material to the cooking, storing and delivering of the food this Bangalore children's charity strives only for the best.

Akshaya Patra even excelled above other charity organizations of Bangalore when it was awarded the CII National Award for Food Safety by the The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII-Jubilant Bhartia Food & Agriculture Centre of Excellence).
This Bangalore childrens charity still continues its relentless efforts to provide ‘Food for Education’ and you can help.

Donate to help this worthy cause, or spare your time and volunteer with this child NGO Bangalore, and you can help brighten these young lives.

(Sharing on behalf of the Akshay Patra Foundation)

Click Here to Donate