The fact that South Asia is lagging behind with regards to access to sanitation is a given.
Lack of coverage, inappropriate use, unhygienic facilities, inequitable access, open defecation, waterborne/washed diseases.. and the list goes on.
These somewhat negative facts and figures paint a rather grim scenario of the sanitation sector in this side of the world. A fact which is more often than not, thought to be THE trigger for bringing about a change in the way the sector functions.
I happened to question this very idea a few years back whilst completing my Masters.
Is the flagging of these type of issues the best way forward? Is this encouraging the necessary change? Or would the sector benefit from a slightly more positive approach?
One which highlights..
Success stories rather than examples of failure
Positive reinforcement instead of criticism
Encouragement rather than blame
These are only only some of the thoughts that went through my head whilst my research was ongoing. The result? An article, which although I have already uploaded in my blog earlier, has actually been re-published this month in two portals - The India Water Portal & the IWA's WaterWiki (links below).
Why do I talk about this again then, one may ask?
The fact that my work is being re-flagged 6 months later, simply makes me believe that the idea of acknowledging positive steps and focusing on these as a means of achieving progress, is one shared by a larger group of people. Or else this really wouldn't have made it up to the web once again.
After reading reports which constantly reiterate poor wastewater management practices at work today, this thought generally gives me a good feeling inside and thus is a good enough reason to write about it and share the happiness in me.
India Water Portal
http://www.indiawaterportal.org/node/31121
Waterwiki
http://www.iwawaterwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Articles/BridgingtheSanitationGap
Lack of coverage, inappropriate use, unhygienic facilities, inequitable access, open defecation, waterborne/washed diseases.. and the list goes on.
These somewhat negative facts and figures paint a rather grim scenario of the sanitation sector in this side of the world. A fact which is more often than not, thought to be THE trigger for bringing about a change in the way the sector functions.
I happened to question this very idea a few years back whilst completing my Masters.
Is the flagging of these type of issues the best way forward? Is this encouraging the necessary change? Or would the sector benefit from a slightly more positive approach?
One which highlights..
Success stories rather than examples of failure
Positive reinforcement instead of criticism
Encouragement rather than blame
These are only only some of the thoughts that went through my head whilst my research was ongoing. The result? An article, which although I have already uploaded in my blog earlier, has actually been re-published this month in two portals - The India Water Portal & the IWA's WaterWiki (links below).
Why do I talk about this again then, one may ask?
The fact that my work is being re-flagged 6 months later, simply makes me believe that the idea of acknowledging positive steps and focusing on these as a means of achieving progress, is one shared by a larger group of people. Or else this really wouldn't have made it up to the web once again.
After reading reports which constantly reiterate poor wastewater management practices at work today, this thought generally gives me a good feeling inside and thus is a good enough reason to write about it and share the happiness in me.
India Water Portal
http://www.indiawaterportal.org/node/31121
Waterwiki
http://www.iwawaterwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Articles/BridgingtheSanitationGap