Pahargunj (Delhi): Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi can't stop boasting about constructing more than 9.2 crore toilets, and making 28 states and Union Territories Open Defecation Free (ODF) under its much-hyped Swachh Bharat Mission, slum dwellers of Motia Khan area in Delhi's Pahargunj, falling under Union Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan's constituency are forced to use poly bags to relieve themselves.
Motia Khan, a slum area, which is a part of Union Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan's constituency as well as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) minister Imran Hussain 's assembly consituency, has only one toilet for a population of more than 10,000. And, the one toilet that these people have access to, closes down at 10 pm every night. Forced to come up with alternative ways of relieving themselves, the residents, particularly women end up urinating and defecating in poly bags and disposing them off on the neighbours rooftop.
"Where do we go, we have to urinate and defecate using poly bags," said an elederly women, who has spent almost all her life in the slum of Motia Khan.
She added, "People dont want to marry our girls or give their girls to us in marriage, as they feel that we are dirty and filthy. None of our relatives want to visit us."
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As if the absence of sufficient number of toilets was not enough, the one that exists lies in shambles with partially damaged doors. The toilet also lies at a considerable distance from the residential area making it difficult and dangerous for the womenfolk to use it after dark.
"Men tease us, grab us, use foul language at us, " said a teenage girl who has to expose herself to such humiliation and f danger everytime she has to relieve herself.
The unhygienic and inhuman living condition has also given way to the outbreak of diseases such as malaria, dengue, cholera, diarrhoea, and skin infection.
An infant, still dangling by her mother's neck has rashes all over her face, which the baby's mother attributes to the open defecation in the area where people are cramped in houses measuring not more than 12 square feet.
"Our kids are falling sick, my weeks old baby is already suffering from skin infection. It's because of the open defecation. What else could be the reason, " said the infant's mother.
The slum dwellers, unhappy with politicians for making tall promises in the election season and then vanishing once the results are out, have decided to boycott the impending Lok Sabha polls 2019. They have instead initiated a campaign, titled "Apna Toilet Ayega- Mantri Ghar Ayega"
