Toilet – Ek Learning Experience
Toilets have become a matter of discussion. Surprising it may sound to some of us, but even after 70 years of Independence, still a large number of people in India are living without their privy. As per statistics, rural population in India is dominating over the urban inhabitants. About 70% of the total population in India is rural, as a reason governmental agencies can be seen promoting Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan to spread awareness on cleanliness, health and sanitation. Progress in addressing a crucial social issue might be running late but Bollywood has taken this issue very seriously. Ready with a commercial “potboiler” quite literally, Toilet – Ek Prem Katha a complete saga of love, marriage and toilet, has released this week.
The movie stars Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Pednekar and revolves around the much lurking issue of open defecation in rural India. In Toilet – Ek Prem Katha, the male protagonist, played by Akshay Kumar, pledges to end the bad practise of open defecation through a toilet revolution for every home in his village, as his beloved wife leaves him post matrimony due to absence of toilet in her marital home. Movies like Toilet – Ek Prem Katha might release and eventually, fade out of social discussions, but their impacts sometimes are capable of turning around social situations. With Toilet – Ek Prem Katha, a very common daily ritual is under the spotlight. Everything attached to a common man is subject to discussion as we are pointing towards the biggest contributor in this civilized society. And when you might be thinking that such issues are limited to rural homes then let us take you through an eye opening organizational management ordeal involving toilets!
Nirmal Industries Ltd., a reputed FMCG company situated in Alwar district of Rajasthan, India are employers of around 500 local labours in and around the adjoining areas of the industrial unit. Though, the company as per industrial set up guidelines, built a good number of toilets for their rural workforce to use, but were continuously failing to make them use those. Majority of the employees preferred to openly defecate owing to their rural backgrounds. Nirmal industries Ltd. decided to tackle this huge challenge of educating their rural workforce about use and benefits of toilets.
In collaboration with Kaizen Training Solutions Pvt. Ltd, Nirmal Industries Ltd. planned to launch a program called ‘Swasth Jeevan’ in 2013 to train and educate 300-500 employees. The task was complex and delivery was challenging due to the involvement of large number of trainees belonging to a rurally remote area. The training program was conducted in batches with innovative techniques such as role plays, dance, traditional references, and open communication. Post the training delivery, and within a couple of months, company observed remarkable growth in number of people ditching fields to use lavatories. Methodologies used by Kaizen Training Solutions Pvt. Ltd managed to hit the right spot, even for the rural work force. Gradually, employees started to change their age old behaviour.
As a result, apart from this change at the work place, many employees realized the requirement of building toilets at their homes as well. Plus, they understood how building of toilets can impact upon the safety of their women folk. This one-of-a-kind innovative learning program powered by Kaizen Training Solutions Pvt. Ltd, spreading the importance of health and sanitation was understood and accepted by Nirmal Industries employees, equivocally. Taking cues from Toilet – Ek Prem Katha, we firmly conclude that sometimes small changes make for huge differences in our lives, if implemented seriously.
