Toilet Manners!

Be it a corporate office or homes, toilet/washroom is one of the most frequented area. A BBC reports cites that an average person visits the toilet 2,500 times a year. About six-eight times a day i.e; a person spend about three years of life in the toilet!

With so much time spend in that midget area, it is so heartening to witness the very area being ignored and least maintained in many places. Even though modern-day toilets/ washrooms are considered as a 'place of relaxation and rejuvenation', especially in places like hotel, but this luxury comes with a price. And how many of us could afford this luxury? Leave aside the fancy gadgets/bidets and opulence these toilets exhibits, it involves huge investments to install in the first place & of course, the maintenance cost. Not many offices or even homes could afford for one. What one would desire is for basics, which includes regular water supply, tissue paper and soap. However, the real issue here is how many in India know or rather understand the proper usage of WC (water-closet)? The answer is handful.

I generally don't appreciate toilet humour, but when my (female) colleagues informed or rather cautioned me to learn the 'fine art of balance' while visiting john. I was clueless rather amused to react to the statement. It was only after the visit to the place, I realised what is the 'balancing act' all about and stunned to find foot-prints. Not on the floor but on the rims of the commode!

How in earth, could one balance oneself on top of the narrow rims of the commode? For god sake, one need not squat on the western style commode like in the Indian-style toilets. And to add to the woes, floors are generally flooded, the clogged sewer lines leave behind half-flushed tissue-papers and the toilet reeks of uric acid. Even the air-fresheners fail to mask the stench. If this is the condition of ladies toilet in an office, where the so-called civilised employees/ workers work. What could be condition in a free- of- cost public urinals/ sulabh shauchalaya?Aren't we taught from childhood at our homes and schools to use public space in a civilised way? May be, our education system has not instilled the right teaching/knowledge.

I have heard of numerous theories/woes like inhibitions, comfort and many more in using WC but everything concludes to one theory in the end ie; lack of knowledge. Can't offices or commercial complexes have two different styles of toilets within their premises, let employee/worker decide what suits them best. At least, there will be some respite from the flooded floors and stench.