A Revolutionary New Scheme to Create Rural Toilets in India - also Jan Dhan and Adhaar

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A proposed revolutionary new scheme to end open defecation in India


A New Scheme is proposed here for consideration by the Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government of India



While indoor toilets, covered drains and sewerage systems were developed in India five thousand years ago in the famed Indus Valley civilization (see here), widespread poverty in the intervening centuries has led to many homes without a kitchen or bathroom across India. The outdoors is used for both. This works fine from a health point of view for kitchens but it is a disaster for public health when the outdoors is used as a toilet. It has also led to security issues especially as regards women. It is not safe to venture out after dark.

Need:

While the need has been felt to prevent open defecation in rural India, there is a greater need for schemes that create incentives for the task. The present note describes a lottery scheme that has the potential for creation of millions of toilets in the country. The scheme proposes a lottery by draw of one thousand rural persons per month for a reward of one Lakh rupees each for a period of three years. A side benefit of the scheme is that it also encourages persons opening Jan Dhan accounts and getting Adhaar numbers.

Who can enter the lottery:

Any person with the following criterion can enter the scheme

  1. Male or female with a rural home anywhere in India and eighteen years or older
  2. Person must have ADHAAR number (or application number)
  3. Person must have Jan Dhan or another account number
  4. One ADHAAR number can enter the lottery only once
  5. Person must have a functional toilet at home so that open defecation is not necessary, certified ( inspace provided on same form) by panch/school head master/official of village

Those who do not have these, need not worry, they should work towards meeting these requirements and enter the lottery open for up to three years. If a rural household has several adult members and a toilet, all can enter the lottery and win several Lakhs (more family members create more pollution). Existing toilet holders can also enter (so that others see that those with toilets are rewarded), not just new ones.

How the Scheme Works:

A one page form is collected from a bank that has facility for Jan Dhan accounts. The form is filled with name as in bank account, address, age, adhaar number, Jan Dhan account number, certified by panch for toilet (with sarpanch stamp provided by government) and submitted to same bank, that shall collect and post them periodically to the central toilet lottery office. Every first of a month by computer draw from applications received in that month, a thousand names would be pulled and prizes dispatched electronically to winner accounts. Illiterate persons can seek the help of a school master or anyone else known to them for filling the form. A functional toilet is defined on reverse of form as one within enclosure of six feet high walls for full privacy, roof not necessary, and connected to unblocked sewer, septic pit or septic drain (see here)  Repeat applications can be easily weeded out by computer by checking against Adhaar number of those who have applied previously..

Cost of Scheme:

With a thousand prizes a month for three years the cost of prizes is 360 crores. Adding administrative costs of at the most 140 crores, the total cost of the scheme would be under 500 crores spread over three years. It would be cheaper than existing schemes to create rural toilets.


Cheaper Scheme

A scaled down much cheaper version of the scheme may also be visulaized by reducing the prize amount to rupees 50, 000 and the number of prizes to just hundred a month. Such a scheme can be run with an expense of just ten crores a year. However the effect of the cheaper scheme may not be as widespread and as rapid in mobilizing rural households.

Benefits of Scheme:  

When rural persons hear of widely advertised prize winners in their villages many will be encouraged to enter and a revolution of toilet making, jan dhan and adhaar cards shall take place ending open defecation in the country.

Conclusion:

This scheme exploits the human psychological urge to win lottery prizes for a laudable and worthy social goal.  When prizes are announced every month it shall create positive publicity for the scheme encouraging thousands of others to participate. The scheme may be debated and tweaked to eliminate any errors. The author is available for any necessary assistance. There need be no hesitation in the government running a lottery scheme because in the past the government has run lottery schemes without a defined cause while this one is for a defined social need.

Note: A link to this note has been communicated to PMO and PM Narendra Modi ji on twitter and has also been posted at http://mygov.in

Comments

Ashok said…
Since I posted this, I have tweaked it slightly myself to remove deficiencies. Comments by others pointing out any lacuna or suggested improvements will be highly appreciated and a contribution towards a worthy cause that contributes to the health of millions. The run off from open defecation pollutes water sources and contributes to dangerous pollution in India, one of the major causes of high infant mortality in India since infants are most susceptible.
December 1, 2014 at 11:29:00 PM PST
Ramakrishnan said…
Sounds crazy but interesting ! A pity that when Vedic Indians had toilets most of the world were nomads defecating in the open !
December 1, 2014 at 11:53:00 PM PST
Ashok said…
True Ramakrishnan. I shall add a paragraph about that at the head of this article for the international audience. Thanks.
December 2, 2014 at 3:12:00 AM PST
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