Top links

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Lack of Toilets costs "Shining India" $54 billion every year

Read on Pakistan Cyber Force Facebook Page

In one of the latest World Bank's Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) reports, lack of toilets and other proper sanitation facilities costs India, the third Asian economy, nearly $54 billion a year. The Economic Impacts of Inadequate Sanitation in India estimated that inadequate sanitation causes the country lose 6.4% of its 2006 gross domestic product (GDP). World Bank experts say 450,000 out of the annual 575 million deaths reported in India are due to diarrhea, adding that millions of people in both rural and urban areas still have to defecate in the open and cope with poor drainage systems. Many Indians also do not wash their hands.


Inadequate toilets in schools and work places also force most of women and girls to be absent or refuse to attend due to the of lack of privacy. "For decades, we have been aware of the significant impacts of inadequate sanitation in India", said Christopher Juan Costain, the World Bank's head for South Asia's water and sanitation program.

More than half of India's 1.17 billion people were mobile- phone subscribers, yet only 366 million people had access to proper sanitation in 2008, a UN study says. According to World Bank, premature deaths, treatment of the sick for illnesses like diarrhea, malaria, trachoma and intestinal worms as well as the time lost due to illness is costing India $38.5 billion alone. "It is estimated that comprehensive interventions like use of toilets, hygiene promotion, improved access to safe water, and proper waste management can save India some Rs 1,321 (US$29.31) per capita", Costain said.

Our suggestion to the indian government: First you need to launch an emergency toilet construction campaign throughout India before going for billions of dollars worth nuclear deals with your former flying casket supplier friend, Russia. Enough said.


Enticing Fury

Pakistan Cyber Force

No comments:

Post a Comment