The latest to join the Swachh bandwagon is a 25-year-old woman from Maharashtra. Chaitali Galakhe, a resident of Akola in Vidarbha district who is earning praises, had set a condition before her parents that she will marry only if they provide a toilet to her as there was none at her in-laws house.
“I insisted my parents that I will marry only if I was provided with a toilet.
"I came to know that there was no toilet at my in-laws house. I convinced my parents by telling them that toilet is more important than jewellery, refrigerator and cooler, and she want it any how,” Chaitali said.
Rejecting her demand was not an easy task for Chaitali’s parents as she was quite adamant on her demand.
Even though Chaitali’s story is similar to several other women in rural Maharashtra, her demand was otherwise valid too as she had a toilet in her own house.
“There is a toilet at my home. I explained the importance and how embarrassing it is for a woman to go out to defecate in the open,” she said.
Left with no choice, Chaitali’s father Dilip Galakhe who learnt about ready-made toilet manufacturers bought one and gifted it during her wedding.
It is interesting to note that the toilet manufacturer, Arvind Dethe, who sold one to Galakhe at a subsidised rate, also appealed to women in the state, saying if they find that their in-laws do not have toilets at their homes, they can buy it from him and he would not make any profit on them.
Expressing gratitude towards his in-laws, Chailtali’s husband Devendra Makode said he will also construct a permanent toilet in the house.
“Toilet is a must. We are happy that her father gave it as a gift to her.”
It was only a few months back that a 30- year-old woman Sangita Awhale had sold her mangalsutra to get a toilet built in her house.
The woman was later felicitated by Maharashtra Rural Development Minister Pankaja Munde.
As a token of appreciation, the minister even bought a gold necklace for Sangita.
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