China following India's path? President Xi orders 'toilet revolution'
China may be taking a cue from India's Swacch Bharat Mission and formulating one of a similar kind. President Xi Jinping had reportedly ordered Chinese people to march along in a "toilet revolution" to clean the country's infamous dirty and foul-smelling public restrooms. The program launched in 2015 aims to make China's toilets more tourist friendly. Here's more on China's toilet revolution.
Why is China contemplating a toilet revolution?
Like India, China's public toilets are notoriously dirty and foul-smelling with no toilet-paper. Tourists often find their "squatty potties" scary and post their unappealing images on the internet causing a dent to China's international image. While launching the toilet revolution, Xi noted that the "toilet problem is not a small thing" and acknowledged that it was pivotal to create "civilized" urban and rural environments.
Toilet revolution: What does China plan to do?
According to a national plan formulated by the National Tourism Administration, China plans on upgrading at least 70,000 toilet by the end of 2017. It plans on constructing or enhancing 64,000 new toilets between 2018 and 2020. Moreover, through improving its toilets China plans to enhance the benefits it derives from tourism and enhance "the overall level of civilization in the society."
Internet commentators welcome China's toilet revolution
Internet commentators lauded the government's decision to upgrade public restrooms on Chinese micro-blogging site, Weibo. "Support the toilet revolution. Seriously, whether it's in a city or the countryside, when nature calls, it's always a hassle to find a decent bathroom," wrote one user.
