Greater access to cell phones than toilets in India: UN

United Nations University
14-Apr-2010
 

UNU-INWEH report offers 9-point prescription for achieving Millennium Development Goal for sanitation

india220_1616765fFar more people in India have access to a cell phone than to a toilet and improved sanitation, according to UN experts who published today a 9-point prescription for achieving the world’s Millennium Development Goal (MDG) for sanitation by 2015.  They also urge the world community to set a new target beyond the MDG (which calls for a 50 percent improvement in access to adequate sanitation by 2015) to the achievement of 100 percent coverage by 2025.
Full news release text, click here
Example coverage:
Agence France Presse, click hereNew York Times op-ed: click here

The Telegraph, UK, click here

Press Trust of India, click here

Time Magazine, click here

CNN: (2012): “Bringing toilets and dignity to India’s poor,” click here

Full coverage summary, click here

Additional references:

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: “Clean water and sanitation save lives. There are many countries in the world today where there are far more mobile cell phones than toilets. That is a gap that we certainly should be able to close.” Sept 20, 2014 Click here

Matt Damon PSA: click here

CNN (2019): “Half of India couldn’t access a toilet 5 years ago. Modi built 110M latrines – but will people use them?” click here