Anyone Claiming That India Is Open-Defecation Free Isn’t Looking at the Reality ‘On the Ground’

An image of open defecation along the shores of Mumbai

March 2, 2019. Mumbai, Versova Beach.

By grand proclamation, the government of India declared India open-defecation free in 2019 — because a bunch of toilets were constructed across the country. But what’s the reality on the ground?

To those who believe this fairy tale, I often direct them to this image I took a few years back, one that I could take on any given morning if I wanted to.

April 19, 2016. Open defecation along Mumbai's shoreline.

April 19, 2016. Mumbai, north Juhu Beach.

Full disclosure, both of these images featured here were taken before the formal declaration when open defecation magically vanished. Let’s just say that you’d have to pay me now to take such pictures because anyone can check for his or herself as to what the reality on the ground actually is. Let’s just say for the sake of argument that it isn’t pretty.

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