‘Indian homes as dirty as it gets’

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MUMBAI: Those who pride themselves on keeping their surroundings clean, this might come as a shocker. According to a global Hygiene Home Truths Study, India is among the worst when it comes to hygiene. The hygiene survey, conducted by Reckitt Benckiser, visited a total of 180 families across nine countries: UK, USA, Germany, Canada, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Australia and India. It was found that while Saudi Arabia had the highest level of bacteria and mould on household surfaces, India was recorded second highest. The study shows 51% of Indian household surfaces were unsatisfactory or heavily contaminated with bacteria. About 85% of Indian household surfaces were unsatisfactory or highly contaminated with mould, a form of fungus. According to Dr Narendra Saini of the Global Hygiene Council, the hotspots are bathroom and kitchen seals, refrigerator interiors, computer keyboards and mouse. 'While it is well known that bathrooms are the most unhygienic places and people take extra care to keep them clean, corners where the floor joins the wall are the places most infested with moulds and germs,' he said. The study also revealed that 10% of Indian refrigerators, 40% of kitchen towels and a large number of kettle/pan handles harboured E coli bacteria, which causes water-borne diseases. Experts believe that there are three reasons why the problem is worse in India: high temperature, high humidity and food. 'We have taken into consideration all economic classes in the survey. In the lower economic strata, there is bound to be hygiene problems. However, we found that the upper economic strata was equally infested though their surfaces looked cleaner,' said Saini. The reason, he said, was that the urban population doesn't allow sunlight and ventilation in houses. 'Take Mumbai for example. Here, the affluent families suffer infectious diseases as they use air-conditions all the time. So, the same air is constantly circulating in their houses. Also, there is constant humidity in their bathrooms because of either wet or hot climate, or the geysers running in slightly chilly season. This gives rise to germs and moulds,' Saini said. However, despite poor results, 90% of Indian households feel that their home is spotless. 'Around 90% also said that they clean their households more frequently if someone was ill in their house. Most Indians feel that only bacteria cause illness. However, the mould or fungus can cause respiratory illness,' said Chander Mohan Sethi, chairman of Reckitt Benckiser. http://timesofindia.indiatimes...

_____ · Oct 20, 2010 6:12 PM · 2,893 views

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I think it has direct relation with the economic as well education and family culture. So, What do you say about Kathmandu City,  Where tanker delivers water? Last edited: 20-Oct-10 06:28 PM

Bhojpure01 · Oct 20, 2010 6:25 PM

Bhojpure, Because Nepal never claimed as an emerging tiger, looks like they didn't check the condition in Nepal, so I have no factual data  but based on the water distribution system in Nepal situation might not be better than India. Lately India is under heavy scrutiny ( not by me) but just because India want world community to recognize it as an emerging tiger. To be recognized as an emerging tiger  economic growth alone is not enough. they usually check how economic growth is translated in the welbeing of its ppl. Lately there was a news that state of "bhukhmari"  is more in India than in Nepal (Nepal scored 56th position while India was 61th. we all know how India was bashed for its preparation  management of CWG games. Similarly this research shows that economic growth is not reflected in sanitary of its ppl too.  In my opinion these are just few  reminders to India that they need to do a lot before clamining some status in  so called "the first world".These are my opinions only. If it is about India, most of the time I post here something from Indian newspaper with facts and figures. Facts are just the numbers. To some ppl it portrays negative picture and to some others it portrays positive picture. By reading my post some ppl might think I don't like India and some other people might say "oh my god we thought India has achieved a lot but they still are far behind. I am just the messenger and ppl say "don't shoot the messanger" I am of the opinion that it is not fare to India when we compare it with Nepal. India is a world class economy, nuclear power started its education system long before Nepal. India can not make excuses citing Nepal. But sometime it is so interesting to know that after 20 years of robust growth (from 1990) the growth is not that much translated into the well being of its people compared to Nepal which enetrd into a political turmoil from 1990 in many fields.(sorry,  here I compared India and Nepal). I do not know the reason. Sometime I feel India may be heading towards very unequal society where there is a deep divide between havs and have nots creating a explosive society. maaoist in India may be the product of same thing

_____ · Oct 20, 2010 8:45 PM

20 families per country isnt significant at all.It would be like surverying Bagmati in Kathmandu and describing all the water sources in Nepal

maxpayne · Oct 21, 2010 12:35 AM

Max, Thanks for pointing out the weakness in the research. appreciate that

_____ · Oct 22, 2010 9:56 AM

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