Open Defecation: A National Challenge
Open defecation by around 600 million people has been called our biggest national shame. The latest Census data (2011) reveals that the percentage of households having access to television and telephones in rural India exceeds the percentage of households with access to toilet facilities. India has a massive problem of open defecation. The World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) estimate that there are more than 620 million people practicing open defecation in the country, or half the population. Open defecation is prevalent among all socio-economic groups in rural India; however, the poorest section of society has to suffer the most.
This well-established traditional behavior is deeply ingrained through practice from early childhood; it is taught.
Reasons for Persistence
Other reasons cited for its persistence in India include poverty (the inability to afford toilets), landlessness, tenants in housing without toilets (usually urban), and deep-rooted cultural and social norms that have established open defecation as an acceptable practice.
Role of Corporates
Corporates can play a major role in it as a CSR activity and brand building.
From India, New Delhi
Acknowledge(0)
Amend(0)
Open defecation by around 600 million people has been called our biggest national shame. The latest Census data (2011) reveals that the percentage of households having access to television and telephones in rural India exceeds the percentage of households with access to toilet facilities. India has a massive problem of open defecation. The World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) estimate that there are more than 620 million people practicing open defecation in the country, or half the population. Open defecation is prevalent among all socio-economic groups in rural India; however, the poorest section of society has to suffer the most.
This well-established traditional behavior is deeply ingrained through practice from early childhood; it is taught.
Reasons for Persistence
Other reasons cited for its persistence in India include poverty (the inability to afford toilets), landlessness, tenants in housing without toilets (usually urban), and deep-rooted cultural and social norms that have established open defecation as an acceptable practice.
Role of Corporates
Corporates can play a major role in it as a CSR activity and brand building.
From India, New Delhi
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
The author's concern towards "open defecation" is understood and very relevant. The "corporates" can go a long way in addressing this shameful national problem. However, the post seems to have somehow meandered around the bush and lost its way. I request the learned forum to discuss the very essence of CSR's constitution.
Understanding CSR
CSR can be deciphered in various ways in various contexts. I believe it is the viewpoint that matters and subsequent actions depending upon the genetic moral model, which is again intangible but enforceable with a definite political will. It is true that society is always a partner for any profit generated by any corporation in any part of the country since none of us actually "owns" the natural resources; it is the society which collectively owns them. Generally speaking, all of us are therefore accountable to society for all our actions and counter-actions. Personally, I feel CSR is very correctly called "corporate conscience."
Quoting from Wikipedia: "Proponents argue that corporations increase long-term profits by operating with a CSR perspective, while critics argue that CSR distracts from business' economic role. A 2000 study compared existing econometric studies of the relationship between social and financial performance, concluding that the contradictory results of previous studies report positive, negative, and neutral financial impacts. CSR is titled to aid an organization's mission as well as a guide to what the company stands for to its consumers. Business ethics is the part of applied ethics that examines ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that can arise in a business environment."
I request my learned friends to respond and take the discussions forward.
From India, Bangalore
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
27Understanding CSR
CSR can be deciphered in various ways in various contexts. I believe it is the viewpoint that matters and subsequent actions depending upon the genetic moral model, which is again intangible but enforceable with a definite political will. It is true that society is always a partner for any profit generated by any corporation in any part of the country since none of us actually "owns" the natural resources; it is the society which collectively owns them. Generally speaking, all of us are therefore accountable to society for all our actions and counter-actions. Personally, I feel CSR is very correctly called "corporate conscience."
Quoting from Wikipedia: "Proponents argue that corporations increase long-term profits by operating with a CSR perspective, while critics argue that CSR distracts from business' economic role. A 2000 study compared existing econometric studies of the relationship between social and financial performance, concluding that the contradictory results of previous studies report positive, negative, and neutral financial impacts. CSR is titled to aid an organization's mission as well as a guide to what the company stands for to its consumers. Business ethics is the part of applied ethics that examines ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that can arise in a business environment."
I request my learned friends to respond and take the discussions forward.
From India, Bangalore
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Our company, as a part of CSR activities, is undertaking the reduction of open defecation by helping individuals construct toilets and also community toilets. In India, we invest heavily in community toilets, but little effort is made by the local administration to maintain the toilets, resulting in such facilities being in disuse.
From India, Lucknow
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
From India, Lucknow
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)CiteHR is an AI-augmented HR knowledge and collaboration platform, enabling HR professionals to solve real-world challenges, validate decisions, and stay ahead through collective intelligence and machine-enhanced guidance. Join Our Platform.
CSR (Corporate Responsibility) .ppt
Social responsibility lecture.pdf