It was an array of experiments in changing mindset, and saw a variety of discussions, from developing optimum efficiency toilets for Swachh Bharat, to spreading the campaign's ring tone, and encounter with harsh realities of ugly Mumbai slums through studied opinions and presentations.
Last Sunday saw experts from various fields deliberate on the Swachh Bharat campaign during the 102nd Indian Science Congress. Noted scientist Dr R A Mashelkar, who headed the committee of people from science and technology for this campaign, chaired the session.
Rajeev Kher, CEO of Sara Plast Private Limited, Sudheendra Kulkarni of Observer Research Foundation in Mumbai, Pradeep Lokhande, founder of Rural Relations, and Swapnil Chaturvedi, who returned from the US to start his own entity for social transformation, Samgra, participated in the symposium, all expressing the need for a transformation in the public outlook.
Stressing the need for a changing mindset, veteran scientist Dr R A Mashelkar said Swachh Bharat needed to be made into a people's movement. He depicted Mumbai's underbelly through slides and said that one-third of slum dwellers defecate in the open, 78 per cent of slum toilets do not have water, and 58 slum toilets are without electricity. He quoted Gandhi and Nehru to essay his point.
Rajeev Kher suggested that building toilets should be taken up as an enterprise with a service model, and the issue should find its way to dinner-table conversations. Children should be made aware of the sanitation issue, he said.
Pradeep Lokhande suggested that over three months, the Swachh Bharat ring tone can reach out to the entire country, if made mandatory. He also recommended a Swachh Bharat Sansad in each school and a Swachh Bharat student ambassador, essentially a girl, to bring about the desired change.
Swapnil Chaturvedi said that he has changed the very look of select public toilets in Pune, and introduce a scheme 'Sandas Jav, Inam Pav (use a toilet, get a reward)'. He said he had also introduced schemes like providing discounts on products and services with use of toilet, which people are responsive to.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}