Why Accessible Toilets Are Missing in Swachh Bharat? Launched in October 2014, the Swachh Bharat Mission stands as one of the most remarkable phases in the country’s hygiene and sanitation narrative, and it has built over 106 million individual household toilets, thereby increasing access to sanitation facilities for the wider public. It is said that a significant effort has also been made to increase access for PwDs under this mission; however, an RTI filed by a disability rights advocate indicates that out of India’s 28 states and 8 union territories (36 in total), 19 lack even a single community or public toilet that is accessible. Understanding the Swachh Bharat MissionBefore this blog digs deeper into the reasons behind the lack of accessible toilets, due to which the true idea of Swachh Bharat remains elusive, let’s understand the basics of the Swachh Bharat Mission. Objectives and Achievements of Swachh BharatThrough the Swachh Bharat Mission, it is aimed that the country gets free of open defecation and that accessible toilets and waste management become a reality across rural and urban areas. This targeted approach aligns with the sixth Sustainable Development Goal (part of the SDGs), and it has considerably reduced diarrhoeal deaths and improved access to sanitation, enhancing safety, especially for women. Focus on Open Defecation and Sanitation Goals Swachh Bharat is primarily focused on open defecation and the collective goal of adequate and effective sanitation. The focus also extends to raising awareness about the importance of hygiene and cleanliness to encourage positive behavioural outcomes in the general public and meet the larger goal of waste management.  Inclusion Gaps in the Sanitation Drive Though the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has brought about crucial and most-needed changes in the country, several inclusion gaps can be seen, particularly pertaining to persons with disabilities, in addition to the urban poor and marginalised migrants. Further, sustainability is an emerging concern due to the lack of proper maintenance of the toilets built under this mission. Who Is Being Left Behind? Who is being left behind when the mission of Swachh Bharat is visualised and discussed? The answer would be the ones facing the most challenges. Challenges Faced by the Disabled and Elderly The mission’s benefits are yet to reach the disabled and the elderly in their entirety, breaking the barriers of inaccessible toilet design and social stigma. Most toilets designed for Swachh Bharat lack ramps, wider doors, grab bars, and inclusive commode options. This hinders PwDs as well as the elderly and other individuals with mobility issues from enjoying the benefits of the mission. Universal toilet design is key. Impact on Women, Especially in Rural Areas The Swachh Bharat Mission positively impacts women’s safety, dignity, and all-round well-being by restricting their exposure to open defecation. The mission also enhances their leadership in local governance. However, the Swachh Bharat Mission mainly takes the infra-first approach, often disregarding women-specific needs. For example, in many rural households, there is a lack of adequate water availability and disposal bins for sanitary products. The Reality of Urban vs. Rural Toilet Access In rural areas, open defecation is so deep-rooted in behavioural norms that changing behaviour is one of the major challenges. Also, some percentage of toilets are poorly constructed, owing to the speedy implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission. On the other hand, toilet access in urban areas faces the challenge of overcrowding and inadequate waste management, among others, especially in slum areas.  Reasons Behind the Lack of Accessible Toilets Let’s now understand the reasons for the lack of accessible toilets. It will help gain a completely informed perspective. Limited Awareness About Universal Design Universal toilet design fosters access to a toilet for every individual, irrespective of their ability, disability, or physical limitations. However, due to a limited awareness of inclusive toilet design in local authorities and construction workers and a major focus on the “number” of toilets, Swachh Bharat somehow misses the opportunity to create an equitable society. Budget Constraints and Misplaced Priorities The Swachh Bharat Mission is one of the most ambitious initiatives by the government, but budget constraints and misplaced priorities pose a significant challenge, overlooking behavioural change reinforcement, proper follow-ups, and waste management. Further, more funds are needed to build strong ground-level systems to achieve the primary objectives of the mission. Absence of Accessibility in Policy Guidelines The absence of accessibility for all in policy guidelines affects the elderly, injured, PwDs, pregnant women, children, and other individuals with temporary or permanent limitations alike. Enforceable standards pertaining to inclusive infrastructure and access should be mandated to construct more accessible toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission.   The Importance of Inclusive Sanitation Infrastructure Inclusive sanitation infrastructure as a human right is not up for negotiation. It is essential for safety, privacy, and dignity. What Makes a Toilet Accessible? Various assistive devices can help make a toilet accessible and inclusive for all, such as ramps, low taps, and grab bars. Proper lighting and disposal bins are also crucial. Affordability and maintenance cannot be compromised as well, while discussing accessibility for Swachh Bharat. Global Standards vs. Indian Practices Global standards in inclusive sanitation infrastructure tend to prioritise universal accessibility as well as the user’s dignity. Indian practices so far, on the other hand, tend to focus less on inclusion and more on the numbers. With the Swachh Bharat Mission, an overhaul is continuously at work.   Social and Health Benefits of Inclusive Toilets The social and health benefits of inclusive toilets are many. Common diseases like cholera are reduced. Also, inclusive toilets reduce urinary tract infections (UTIs), among others. From a social perspective, inclusive toilets minimise invisibility and discrimination, and they allow every individual to move freely and participate in civic life. Government Initiatives and Missed Opportunities This section looks at government initiatives and missed opportunities in the context of sanitation, public health, and hygiene. What the Swachh Bharat Mission Has Done So Far The Swachh Bharat Mission has led to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goal of health much ahead of time, through an open defecation-free status. Positive behavioural reinforcement is also underway. Schemes That Could Support Accessible Toilets Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan), for instance, is a major initiative, apart from the Swachh Bharat Mission, that aims to enhance accessibility and inclusivity for everyone, with accessible toilets being a key point of concern. Also, numerous other schemes for construction workers and PwDs, like Shauchalaya Sahayata Yojana, could support the construction and regular maintenance of accessible toilets.   Missed Integration With Disability Welfare Programs As of now, Swachh Bharat misses proper integration with disability welfare programs, workers’ welfare programs, and community toilet schemes. However, that does not take away the positive impact that the Swachh Bharat Mission has had on the country’s sanitation intervention attempts. Way Forward: Making Swachh Bharat Truly Inclusive Swachh Bharat should also be an inclusive and accessible Bharat. So, what’s the way forward? It is time to discuss.  Incorporating Accessibility in Future Phases By incorporating accessible sanitation infrastructure design, Swachh Bharat should contribute to enhancing accessibility for more people in its future phases. For this purpose, community participation could also be encouraged, as well as targeted behaviour change campaigns. Role of NGOs and Community-Led Models In the Swachh Bharat Mission’s future phases, NGOs and community-led models, as outlined above, could play an important part in making the sanitation practices, such as the proper use of toilets, sustainable. NGOs, for example, have the power to conduct door-to-door campaigns and community meetings through street plays to educate the masses. Community-led models, such as local sanitation committees, could help develop a sense of ownership. Monitoring, Feedback, and Policy Reform It is high time that technology is also leveraged to create vigorous monitoring mechanisms and feedback platforms to identify the room for improvement and ensure policy reform. Public-private partnerships could also be explored in every step of the process, especially to improve the lives of sanitation workers.   Conclusion Though there is still much to be done to make sure that all the objectives of the Swachh Bharat Mission reach their desired outcomes, the fact cannot be ignored that the mission has had a far-reaching impact on public health, hygiene, and sanitation in India. It is expected that the future phases of the mission would take care of the gaps and contribute to the creation of a completely inclusive, empathetic, and equitable society.

Money Management Tips for Small Businesses to GrowIn this blog, we explore some effective tips and techniques that will help you in money management for business. The significance of money management tips and techniques cannot be underestimated at any cost for obvious reasons. Effective money management not only helps you achieve your short-term and long-term business goals, but it also enables you to increase your financial resources and avoid unnecessary stress on your journey to success and empowerment. After you have gone through the top 10 money management tips for business discussed in this blog, make sure that you act on them wholeheartedly to produce results.10 Tips for Money Management for BusinessFor facilitating the growth and stability of your business, here are some useful money management tips that revolve around budgeting, expenditures, and investments. These tips can prove extremely conducive to your overall success. Let’s get started.1. Create a Detailed Budget: You need to have clear financial goals in mind before embarking on money management for business. Creating a detailed budget will help you further in this process. It will ensure that you are completely aware of your sources of income and allocate adequate resources to every set goal. Your detailed budget can very well be a reflection of your business performance and a forecast of your future costs and revenues.2. Track Company Expenses: You cannot NOT know your spending patterns. One of the most important money management tips for business is that you should track your company’s expenses through a systematic accounting process and review it regularly to make informed business decisions. It will greatly help you in improving your cash flow through better budgeting and ensure your financial health for good.3. Don’t Forget to Pay Yourself: You cannot compromise on this one, too, amongst the different money management tips that are discussed in this blog. When you pay yourself within reasonable boundaries, it helps you differentiate between personal and business finances. Unless you emphasise this differentiation, it is bound to affect your motivation and focus, which is not good for you and your business's well-being in any way. You should also take notice of your business performance and review your earnings accordingly. It gives you the push that’s needed to persevere on the road to entrepreneurial success.4. Wrap Up Before the Deadlines: When you are on the verge of missing your deadlines, you are prone to increasing your likelihood of making serious mistakes due to immediate rushes. If there is ever an effective way to ensure money management for business, it lies in the process of wrapping up tasks before deadlines and staying motivated. To achieve this, you really need to work on making your deadlines realistic and dividing tasks into manageable projects.5. Invest in Growth: You might be wondering why you need to invest in growth to avail of money management tips for business. First and foremost, investment in growth helps maximise profitability more than anything. This is because growth initiatives not only enable you to tap into new markets and new customer bases but also enable you to create a culture that is based on innovation and attractive investment opportunities. Sustainable financial management hinges on investment in growth to a large extent.6. Manage Debt Wisely: To sustain a good cash flow, it is important for you to manage debt wisely. It will help you meet your business goals better, avoiding delays or compromising on business operations in any way. This makes managing debt wisely one of the most significant money management tips for you to achieve continued success. Effective management of debt also brings odds in your favour and enhances your credibility in the eyes of all your stakeholders.7. Spread Out Tax Payments: Money management for business becomes more effective when you spread out your tax payments, essentially by diversifying your investment portfolio. Not only does proper tax accounting and diversification add to your financial health, but it also shapes the growth potential of your business for good. Since business profits tend to fluctuate from time to time, spreading out tax payments is greatly conducive to reducing the overall tax you pay.8. Monitor Your Books: Amongst the top money management tips for business is that you should have good bookkeeping skills or recruit someone who has good bookkeeping skills. Since good bookkeeping helps you predict your financial health in the future as well as stay on time and fulfil every contract with relative ease, it is essential to your business's well-being in more ways than one. You are advised not to procrastinate when it comes to bookkeeping for your business.9. Focus on Both Expenditures and ROI: You need to focus on both expenditures and ROI for the sustained financial success of your business. Focusing on expenditures and ROI enables you to avoid unnecessary costs and improve your profits as well as cash flow. It also gives you a fair idea of whether the investments that you have made are lucrative or not. All of this has a positive impact on the allocation of your resources and the creation of value in your business.10. Always Have an Emergency Fund: For effective money management and mitigating the risk of last-minute surges in expenditure or anything like that, you always need to have an emergency fund in place for your business. It constitutes a significant part of your money management for business and calls for due consideration. Primarily, an emergency fund makes it feasible for you to continue your operations in cases when the cash flow is not on par with expectations, and it keeps the boat sailing with stability.Conclusion:-Knowledge is the key to success; hence, the first step for you as a business owner is to equip yourself with the knowledge required for effective and informed decision-making. The money management tips for business explored in this blog are meant to facilitate that knowledge, and once you acquaint yourself with those tips well enough, rest assured that you are also likely to fare well enough in taking impactful, strategic, and actionable steps towards your business’s financial health and well-being.

How to Navigate the Challenges of Scaling a Startup?Scaling a startup is not an easy task; if it were an easy task, then around 90% of the startups in India wouldn’t fail in the first five years. There are numerous challenges that any startup scaling journey faces, but it takes great perseverance and a strategic front from your side to make it through and be counted among the 10% of startups that succeed. To do that, it is important for you to first understand the scaling process of a startup business.Understanding the Scaling ProcessIf you are wondering what the meaning of scaling a startup is and how you can assess the readiness of your startup business for this process, it’s time to dig in deeper.Defining Scaling: A startup scaling journey cannot be underestimated, as no entrepreneur wants to have a business that is just good enough; rather, generally, an entrepreneur’s ultimate objective is to make it big and ensure a steady flow of huge profits. Scaling is the process that helps you make it big, which is all about strategic expansion by increasing resources in every area, including personnel, infrastructure, and technology, all while leveraging economies of scale to acquire investors as well as customers.Assessing Readiness for Scaling: Scaling a startup hinges on informed decision-making. You have to first assess whether your startup business has consistently been generating considerable revenue, whether your customer base is expanding well, along with positive reviews, and whether your technological and operational infrastructure is capable of adapting to the changing market dynamics and fulfilling the rising demand. Once you have assessed factors such as these, you will be able to decide whether it is time to embark on your startup scaling journey.Common Challenges in Scaling a Startup: A startup encounters countless operational, financial, and human resources (HR) challenges on its way to accomplishing the scaling process. The Major and Common Challenges are as follows.1. Operational ChallengesProcess Optimisation:- The processes that worked for you before expansion might not work for you after you scale up your startup business, hence the optimisation of processes is essential. That said, process optimisation is never a one-time thing but an ongoing task.Quality Control:- Scaling a startup business means that you now have to produce a larger quantity of your products or services, and you certainly cannot compromise on their quality. There is thus a need to redesign and transform operations for greater output.Supply Chain Management:- You cannot afford to have either shortages of raw materials or delays in product delivery, as it is bound to affect your customer base. Supply chain management thus becomes of utmost importance while you aim at scaling a startup business.2. Financial ChallengesFunding Requirements:- A startup business needs to scale up in every respect if it has to scale up its profits. To do that, funding requirements definitely get quite high, as additional staff and new technology are needed for increased production to meet the increased demand.Cash Flow Management:- It is not only expenses on hiring new staff, increasing inventory, or boosting marketing which call for a steady cash flow, but the delays in payment from the customers’ side also make cash flow management a significant topic of concern.Cost Management:- You have to be proficient in negotiating with your stakeholders and securing quality raw materials at a low cost. If you do not succeed in cost management and costs go higher than profits, your startup business might have to be scaled down in all likelihood.3. Human Resources ChallengesTalent Acquisition:- It is extremely challenging to find and recruit people with the right values and skills that fit in easily. Also, since a startup is relatively at more risk, most talented individuals prefer to collaborate with big companies that are already established.Employee Retention:- Since a startup scaling journey is infused with enormous work pressure and not-so-standard compensation, it gets hard to retain employees after a while since demotivation starts to enter the scene, owing to burnout, unclear expectations, and such.Company Culture:- Company culture is an important factor from the vantage point of scaling a startup. When the company culture is positive and provides employees with a sense of belonging, it fosters collaborative work and innovative ideas.Strategic Approaches to ScalingNow that the challenges of scaling a startup have been discussed, it is time to delve into the ways that can help you navigate the entire process of scaling with smoothness.1. Developing a Scalable Business ModelBusiness Model Evaluation:- You have to carry out a SWOT analysis first (about strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) if you want to develop a scalable business model without any operational and funding challenges for your long-term objectives.Product or Service Expansion:- To leverage new markets and expand the customer base of your startup business, you need to diversify your products and services according to their evolving preferences and needs. Such diversification and expansion will also help you stay competitive.Technology Integration:- Technology has the potential to automate a vast range of tasks, such as customer acquisition and engagement, through various communication channels and platforms. It not only saves you time and resources, but it also promotes new business growth.2. Effective Leadership and ManagementLeadership Skills:- A startup scaling journey depends a lot on effective leadership skills that can take the organisation towards success through strategic initiatives aimed at boosting the productivity of employees and more. Therefore, you should focus on cultivating good leadership for your startup business.Delegation:- Time and resources are everything for scaling a startup, hence it becomes more important than ever to delegate tasks that do not need your personal attention. Your ultimate job is to focus on growth and innovation to sustain your business growth.Communication:- You need to have systems and processes in place to foster open communication in your startup business. For this purpose, you can organise team meetings on a regular basis and create a supportive environment that encourages active listening.3. Marketing and Customer AcquisitionScalable Marketing Strategies:- Marketing spurs business growth in many ways. It not only helps you expand your customer base through meaningful reach, but it also ensures continued lead generation if done well. Scalable marketing strategies are essential if you want to evolve as the market evolves, rather than perish as it evolves.Customer Retention:- Customer retention is oftentimes more difficult than employee retention. For scaling a startup, both are of utmost significance. Providing your customers with a 24/7 positive experience plus support can help you retain your customers, as career growth opportunities plus 24/7 support can help you retain your employees.Brand Awareness:- Increasing your brand awareness/visibility through social media, public relations (PR), and other communication channels can greatly help you in your startup scaling journey and set you apart from your competitors.In a NutshellThough there are numerous challenges in scaling a startup, relating to operations, finances, human resources, and such, every challenge comes with a solution that you can figure out. Navigating the challenges of scaling a startup business is a difficult job, but given the growth it can attain as well as the profits it can leverage, the entire job is quite a fulfilling and worthy one.Conclusion:-Knowledge is the key to success; hence, the first step for you as a business owner is to equip yourself with the knowledge required for effective and informed decision-making. The money management tips for business explored in this blog are meant to facilitate that knowledge, and once you acquaint yourself with those tips well enough, rest assured that you are also likely to fare well enough in taking impactful, strategic, and actionable steps towards your business’s financial health and well-being.

How to Pick the Right Career After 12th?Due to a multitude of factors, it’s a complex question if you want to know how to pick the right career after 12th in India. Since there is never a “right thing” or the “right career” as such, which profession is best after 12th depends a lot upon self-reflection, market insights, and the short-term and long-term goals you have set for yourself. What’s more, you do not only have to examine your job and business prospects in case you choose a career, but you also have to plan how you wish to have your work-life interface and retirement. In essence, any career is the right career for you that matches your energy and stimulates your passion for continuous professional developmentHere are the Key Points to be DiscussedUnderstanding YourselfSelf-awareness is crucial if you are navigating the path of how to pick the right career after 12th in India. Now, this self-awareness and understanding comes only from an honest assessment of your personal interests, strengths, and weaknesses. It’s the only way to balance your areas of interest and excellence with competitiveness in this age. Thus, success stems from your self-awareness, more than it does from endlessly pursuing something for the sake of pursuing, without a tinge of self-awareness.Exploring the LandscapeTo make an informed decision, especially regarding how to choose a career path after 12th, it is important to analyse the amount of information and data available. That is to say, it is important to explore the entire landscape to understand which profession is best after 12th for you. You have to stay open-minded and critically alert during the whole process of exploring different career trajectories before choosing a particular one.Getting the Market InsightThe significance of market insights lies in the fact that current trends in the industry and economic forecasts give you a rough idea of which skills will be in demand in the future and thus how to pick the right career after 12th in India. Of course, it requires careful evaluation to have valuable insights into the market dynamics, but with proper guidance from counsellors and mentors, the process will smooth out for you.Setting GoalsWhen you already know which goals you want to aim at and strive for, it becomes easier to figure out the career trajectory meant for you. How to choose a career after 12th depends a lot on goal-setting, but as you are aware, goal-setting is itself a time-consuming task that hinges on your personal interests and the prospects out there. Also, you need to review and revise your goals on a regular basis in order to increase success.What is the Top Trick to Choose the Best Career After the 12th?Exploring Interests, Passions, and HobbiesIf you have not been on the journey to self-discovery yet, it is the perfect time to do so before deciding which profession is best after 12th. The journey to self-discovery has a lot to do with exploring your interests, passions, and hobbies, but it also goes beyond that to give you a realisation of what a fulfilling life means to you. Online workshops, career counselling, and community programs for hands-on experience can come in handy for the same.Assessing Strengths, Skills, and WeaknessesWhile trying to figure out how to choose a career after 12th, it is crucial to understand that interests, passions, and hobbies differ from strengths, skills, and weaknesses. However, all of these have to be kept in mind before indulging in decision-making for your career trajectory. Not only self-assessments but also detailed feedback from mentors will help you make your decision.Reflecting on Personality Traits and ValuesEveryone has unique personality traits and values that affect every single thing in their lives, such as introversion, extroversion, creative thinking, and analytical thinking. You have to be keenly aware of your traits and values, as they greatly impact your preferences and behaviours. This awareness, as mentioned before, comes from self-reflection and feedback from others.Guidance Matters: Seeking Expert AdviceJob trends are continuously changing, and industries are also constantly evolving. In such a scenario, making an informed decision gets easier for you when you seek some guidance and advice from experts and career counsellors. They not only help you explore diverse options that cater to your personal interests and aspirations, but they also help you delve into the challenges and opportunities that come with your preferences, offering you a quite realistic viewpoint on things. Thus, you get self-confident in your selected career trajectory and are also able to avoid potential setbacks.Mapping the Path: Educational Requirements and PathwaysCollege DegreesIf you are trying to figure out how to pick the right career after 12th in India, you certainly cannot undermine the significance of college degrees even today, especially in areas like healthcare, law, and finance, which require professional training.Vocational CoursesVocational education is the need of the hour, especially because you can make yourself highly employable through vocational courses, contributing to the country’s socio-economic growth by developing specific skills required by your preferred industry.CertificationsCertifications add great value to your career trajectory by setting you apart from the vast pool of human resources available in India. However, rather than focusing on random certifications, you should aim for certifications in those areas that facilitate your career advancement.Market Insight: Evaluating Demand and TrendsSignificance of Assessing Current and Future Job Market TrendsYou cannot make an informed career decision after the 12th if you are not aware of the current job market trends and the potential ones in the future. Promising industries that match your interests and aspirations provide you with better growth opportunities and pave the way for a bright future.Researching Industries with Sustainable Growth and DemandSustainability is a buzzword for a reason, so while you are navigating your way on how to choose a career after 12th, you should look out for industries that promise sustainable growth and demand over the years. Research cannot be dispensed with.Balancing Personal Interests and Market Demand for Informed DecisionsSince it is important to balance personal interests with the market demand and dynamics for true success, you have to make informed decisions to set off on a career that resonates with your idea of life satisfaction. This is to say that striking a balance between the two is the key.Conclusion:-Choosing a career is one of the most important decisions that you have to make. Since it has the power to make or ruin your life, informed decision-making is of great significance when picking the right career after the 12th. So, it is suggested that you indulge in careful research and do not forget to seek guidance from experts and career counsellors, taking into account current and future job trends. How to pick the right career after 12th in India is not quite easy, especially given the trending prominence of entrepreneurship. However, thorough research and self-reflection will help you forge the right career trajectory for yourself.FAQs:-Which Subject Is Your Favourite?Though there are many subjects, there has to be at least one subject that you absolutely love and that boosts your enthusiasm. The answer to this question is thus significant for deducing how to pick the right career after 12th in India.What Would You Like to Do Professionally That You Will Enjoy the Most?Happiness and life satisfaction are the ultimate goals for many, in which your career trajectory plays a key role. Hence, it is important to do something professionally that you enjoy personally.What are your hobbies? Would you like to build a career with your hobby?There is a slight difference between your personal and professional interests. What means to you personally as a hobby may not always mean that much professionally as a career. You have to be critically alert to this fact while choosing a career.What Are Your Hobbies? Would You Like to Build a Career with Your Hobby?There is a slight difference between your personal and professional interests. What means to you personally as a hobby may not always mean that much professionally as a career. You have to be critically alert to this fact while choosing a career.Will You Perform Better in Serving Others? Do You Tend to Work Better Under Pressure?How to choose a career path after 12th also depends on your particular traits and values, hence you need to reflect on factors such as whether you are a team player or a one-person army and whether you work better under pressure or without it.Which Subject Do You Consistently Score Good Marks In?There must have been a subject in which you scored consistently good marks. Come on, which one was that? Would you like to make a career out of that subject? Think about it.