He had never thought that his passion for collection of information on toilets would bring him a name, but this is what has happened. Ramesh Bhateja of Roorkee has been collecting such information for close to two decades.
Recently, his efforts were acknowledged by Roorkee municipal corporation with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi having become the poster boy of clean India. His contribution towards hygiene and sanitation made him the brand ambassador of open defecation free movement now going on in full swing in the state. It was followed by World Record Union of six countries which bestowed him with its excellence award on world stage-2017 at Sirifort Auditorium in Delhi on November 12. He now figures in Asia Book of Records. Bhateja has the largest (1044) news clippings collection (1996-2017) on toilets, states India Book of Records.
While receiving the award from the Health Minister of Delhi in the presence of the chief editors of various record books from south- eastern countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal and Bangladesh, Bhateja said that his commitment to making India clean is invincible. “I have guided various organisations and people for the viable and cost- effective ways of toilet construction, depending on the terrain and availability of water.
Keeping my ears and eyes open, I used to gather from newspapers and journals whatever new was invented in the sphere of sanitation. This passion of collecting newspaper clippings has fetched me some recognition which I think is my duty to share with the society I live in,” said Bhateja while talking to The Pioneer.
He further said that there is no better option to sewer line for sewage disposal. “But at certain places like remote areas and schools in the villages where sewage line is yet to be laid, septic tanks prove useful. For the areas where water table is high like river banks, ready made septic tanks can be used. In the remote areas, people use fly ash bricks to make septic tanks,” he said.