A Rs 48-crore scheme aided by foreign agencies to popularise hand wash using detergent in Kerala has raised the hackles of many in the state.Aimed at propagating washing of hands with soap to reduce incidence of diarrhoea, the project is aided by World Bank and several international agencies. But what the Marxist-led Opposition, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and a section of health activists in the state are asking is why it is being implemented only in Kerala and Ghana, Africa. The detractors point out that Kerala boasts of high literacy and health indices and the incidence of diarrhoea here is perhaps the lowest in India.The promoters of the project, in turn, say they have selected Kerala and Ghana to test the efficacy of the programme in two extreme social conditions. They also say that studies conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine show that only 16 per cent of Keralites use soap to wash hands. The state reported 6.7 lakh cases of diarrhoea last year.But critics have dubbed the exercise an ‘‘insult to the Keralites’ intelligence’’ and aimed at increasing the sale of soaps by MNCs. Among those making these charges is Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan. Chairman of the Health Action by People Dr C.R. Soman also terms the project a ‘‘marketing gimmick’’, adding that one of its proposals mentions it will help double the use of soaps in Kerala. IMA state secretary T. Suresh Kumar adds: ‘‘It is strange that the state government has earmarked Rs 3 crore for the scheme after relegating priorities like health and social hygiene to the background.’’ The IMA won’t allow its implementation, he threatens. State Irrigation Minister T.M. Jacob says: ‘‘A decision will be taken after discussions at the Cabinet level. The government will not force people to buy their soaps.’’
