Reel to real: After bahu flushes sasural, toilet comes home

In an incident that seems straight out of the Akshay Kumar starrer Toilet Ek Prem Katha; a newly married bride from Rajsamand district left her husband’s home because there was no toilet and the family refused to get one constructed. The bride returned eight months later, only after her in-laws got a toilet constructed.

Kalawati, a high school pass girl from Udaipur was married to Suresh Rangaswami, a resident of Baghpur village in Rajsamand district. It came as a shock to her to find that she had to go to the fields for nature’s call as there was no toilet in the house. Not willing to be cowed down she raised the demand for one. But the family did not agree to get one made.

“There was no way I could compromise on the issue of a toilet. I wanted to live with my husband, but not at the cost of going to the fields before sunrise,” said Kalawati to DNA.

To move things the spunky bride informed the gram panchayat official who was incharge of the Swachch Bharat Campaign (SBM) in the village.     

“Kalawati told me she was used to a toilet but there was no toilet in her in-laws house and she was facing a problem because of it,” said Lalita Rathore a gram panchayat employee. 

Meanwhile, the young bride left her husband’s home saying that she would return only after a toilet was made. Caste panchayat was also held on the issue but the young bride refused to budge.

SBM officials counselled the family and even got finances sanctioned. “It took some time to convince them. But it was worth the effort to see the toilet made and the bahu return,” said Nana Lal Sawai, district project coordinator, SBM, Rajsamand to DNA.

Kalawati is now a champion of sorts at the village. She encourages women to use the toilets that have been constructed at their homes under SBM.

Refused To Budge

Kalawati left her husband’s home saying that she would return only after a toilet was made. Caste panchayat was also held on the issue but the young bride refused to budge.  SBM officials counselled the family and even got finances sanctioned for the same.