World Toilet Day, taking place every year on November 19, is not just any day on the calendar; it’s a significant observance recognized by the United Nations to shed light on the pressing global sanitation crisis. Established since 2013, this day is dedicated to creating awareness around safe and accessible toilet facilities, anchoring its importance within Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims at ensuring water and sanitation for everyone by 2030. The theme for this year's observance is “Toilets - A Place for Peace,” reflecting the sobering fact faced by billions of people who are under constant threat to their sanitation due to conflicts, climate change, natural disasters, and systemic neglect.
Behind the glitz and glamour of various World Toilet Day celebrations lies somber statistics indicating just how dire the situation is. Currently, around 3.5 billion individuals are without safely managed sanitation facilities, and 419 million are still practicing open defecation worldwide. These figures are not simply numbers; they represent heightened health risks, especially as improper sanitation practices facilitate the transmission of deadly diseases like cholera, making safe toilet facilities not just important but indispensable for public health.
Access to sanitation is not just about toilets. It’s about dignity, public health, and environmental safety. Studies indicate alarming trends; for example, the World Health Organization (WHO) noted earlier this year approximately 1,000 children under five die every day due to complications from unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene. Improved sanitation services could save around 1.4 million lives yearly, underscoring the necessity for immediate global action.
With the 2024 World Toilet Day campaign emphasizing resilient sanitation, the global call to action is louder than ever. Governments are urged to safeguard sanitation and water services against disruptions caused by conflicts or climate change. It is reported today, 2.2 billion people globally still lack access to safe drinking water, and 2 billion lack basic hygiene facilities.
Children remain the most vulnerable demographic; those living in fragile contexts are three times as likely to engage in open defecation and eight times more likely to lack access to basic hygiene services. Tragically, children under 15 years who find themselves in conflict-affected areas are nearly three times more likely to perish due to diseases stemming from poor sanitation than from direct violence, driving home the urgent need to act.
Halfway across the globe, India stands at the forefront of efforts to bolster sanitation, especially as World Toilet Day approaches. This year, the day has been earmarked for launching the "Hamara Shauchalay: Hamara Samman" campaign, which seeks to connect sanitation rights—especially the rights of women and girls—to issues of dignity and privacy.
The Indian government is directing all states and union territories to conduct surveys aimed at identifying existing gaps and expediting the construction of Individual Household Latrines (IHHLs). Village drives and camps are set up to assure eligible beneficiaries receive their sanctions for toilet building on time.
The Swachh Bharat Mission, also known as the Clean India Mission, stands as the cornerstone of India's sanitation advancement since its initiation back in 2014. This program has marked the completion of more than 11.73 crore household toilets, resulting significantly in 5.57 lakh villages achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus status throughout the nation. WHO recognizes these efforts as pivotal contributors to public health improvement, noting approximately 300,000 fewer deaths from diarrheal diseases as compared to figures prior to 2014.
The campaign's economic impacts are also noteworthy. Each ODF household has reportedly saved around INR 50,000 annually related to healthcare costs. The urban segment has not lagged, with the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban achieving the impressive feat of constructing over 63.63 lakh household latrines alongside more than 6.36 lakh community and public toilets. Collectively, this has enabled more than 4,576 cities to attain ODF status, with many also progressing to ODF+ and even ODF++ designations.
One of the most significant impacts of this mission is its influence on women's safety and dignity. A recent survey revealed approximately 93% of women residing in ODF regions reported enhanced feelings of security. Access to proper sanitation has not just improved hygiene but has empowered women and girls, changing the social fabric of communities.
A day like World Toilet Day serves to remind all stakeholders—the government, nonprofit organizations, and the public—about the immediate need for action on sanitation. It’s not merely about advocating for infrastructure; it's about recognizing sanitation access as fundamental to human rights, dignity, and security for all. Efforts cannot stop; they must be sustained, as millions still fall through gaps.
Addressing sanitation shortages, especially within vulnerable communities, must feature prominently on global and local agendas. By working together constructively, communities, governments, and organizations can work toward making universal access to water and sanitation not just theoretical aspirations but realized goals.
The significance of World Toilet Day and similar campaigns cannot be overstated, especially as they help kindle the urgency for change across the globe. Let’s continue to press for improved sanitation services and facilities, as only through collaborative effort can societies thrive and grow, ensuring health and safety for everyone, everywhere.
