Sulabh founder to write to PM Narendra Modi seeking toilet at every home

Patna, May 31: Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for coining the slogan "toilet first, temple later", noted sanitation and hygiene expert Bindeshwar Pathak on Saturday expressed his wish to work with the government for making available toilet in every household.

"I am going to write a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon in this regard," Pathak told reporters.

Pathak is the founder of Sulabh International, a social service organisation which works to promote human rights, environmental sanitation, non-conventional sources of energy, waste management and social reforms. Pathak gave a cheque of Rs 1.5 lakh to a woman for construction of toilet at her home in Sadisopur village of Patna district.

Modi had stressed "toilets first, temples later" slogan during his campaign days

"Building toilet at every household could herald an effective social change in the society," he said. Pathak said more than a crore households particularly in rural areas were bereft of toilet due to which people have to practise open defecation.

Lack of household toilets in rural areas is considered a reason for the high rate of crimes against women as the latter often fall prey to predators when they go out of their houses to attend nature's call.

PTI