PRESS RELEASE

New Delhi, 30th June, 2014

The National Human Rights Commission has sought reports from the Secretary, Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation and the Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories within four weeks on the issue of defecation in open and lack of toilets. A survey also proved that 30 per cent women who went out for toilet became victims of sexual assault. The Commission has observed that the contents of the press report, if true, raised a serious issue of violation of human rights.

The notice followed suo motu cognizance of a media report quoting the 2011 Census that half of India went for toilet in open. 77% population in Jharkhand and Odisha and 76% in Bihar and 64% in Uttar Pradesh did not have toilet in their houses. More than 62 crore people in India defecated in open.

Reportedly, the UPA Government, in October, 2013, accepted that lack of toilets in houses was one of the main reasons for increasing number of incidents of rape.

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