Toilets clogged, villagers defecate on roofs

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Nasirpur (Jalandhar), August 23

She is visibly uneasy and restless. It’s already noon and she has still not been able to relieve herself. Reason: The toilet in her kutcha house at Nasirpur has been washed away. Jasmeen, 14, is not the only one suffering. Open defecation has become a norm of sorts here in flood-hit villages of Lohian area.

“Mujhe sharam aati hai (I feel so embarrassed),” she hesitantly shares. As The Tribune team reached Nasirpur village by boat today, it came to fore that defecation has become a major concern for most women, who wait for sundown to go and relieve themselves in the open.

Sarabjit Kaur, who has an 11-year-old daughter, said she did not allow her daughter to step out alone to relieve herself. “It’s not safe for girls. I always go out with her. I really hope all this ends soon.”

Those who have toilets in their houses are also not being able to use as these are clogged. They are instead defecating on their rooftops by putting up tarpaulin. It has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes as most are defecating in the open with no one to clean the mess.

Pointing out that it has become a major health concern, Rajinder Kaur said: “Our houses stink and we are leading a terrible life.”

Sanitary pads another problem

• Women shared that since they could not go out, they were forced to use old clothes instead of sanitary pads.
• “We are even reusing the clothes, which is not hygienic. This defecation issue and non-availability of sanitary pads have added to our woes,” a 23-year-old woman said.