Why do people prefer open defecation and not want toilets or, if they have them, only use them sometimes? Recent research has shown two critical elements : ideas of purity and pollution, and not wanting pits or septic tanks to fill because they have to be emptied. These are the issues that nobody wants to talk about, but if we want to eradicate the practice of open defecation, they have to be confronted and dealt properly.

Which among the following is the most crucial message conveyed by the above passage?

Question

Why do people prefer open defecation and not want toilets or, if they have them, only use them sometimes? Recent research has shown two critical elements : ideas of purity and pollution, and not wanting pits or septic tanks to fill because they have to be emptied. These are the issues that nobody wants to talk about, but if we want to eradicate the practice of open defecation, they have to be confronted and dealt properly.

Which among the following is the most crucial message conveyed by the above passage?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: People have to perceive toilet use and pit-emptying as clean and not polluting. The passage addresses the core psychological barriers to toilet usage in India: the ideas of purity and pollution, and the reluctance to handle pit-emptying. To eradicate open defecation, these critical issues must be confronted. The most crucial message is that people need to shift their perceptions, recognizing toilet use and pit-emptying as clean and non-polluting activities rather than dirty or impure tasks. Option A is too pessimistic, stating these ideas "cannot be removed," which defeats the purpose of eradication. Options C and D are overly negative generalizations that do not represent a constructive solution or message. Therefore, Option B is the correct and most rational message.

Which among the following is the most crucial message conveyed by the above passage?

हिंदी में प्रश्न एवं आदर्श उत्तर