Swach Bharat Mission, Udaipur brand ambassador and actress Asmita Sharma’s recently released bollywood film Gurtu Gutargun is inspiring many women to construct toilets and not to openly defecate in rural tribal belts of Udaipur district. This film is tax free in Rajasthan and for 2 weeks or so Udaipur district administration and other NGOs are encouraging remote rural people to watch the film.

The film was premiered in Udaipur on 3^rd February 2017. Lead actress Asmita Sharma who is now brand ambassador of Udaipur Swach Bharat Mission said “This film might be the first Hindi film on the issue of women and sanitation which raises the issue with entrainment and humorous way”.

A full house show with more than 550 women from remote region of Phalasiya and Kurabad block of the district was organized on 8^th February 2017 with support from Wells for India, UK and its partner NGOs Mahan Sewa Sansthan and Hanuman Van Vikas Samiti.

The film was so much appreciated especially by the women that lady Sarpanch Geeta Devi Gamar from Amaliya village of Phalasiya block committed to make her Gram Panchayat open defecation free as soon as possible. Geeta Devi very emotionally said after watching the film” Mahilaon ko Jitani takleef hotin hai utni purush ko nahi hoti” meaning it is women who suffers most than men for not having toilet.

After going back to her village which is almost 3 hrs drive in to hilly tribal region, next day she organized the meeting in her gram Panchayat and started encouraging women to take a lead in constructing toilets.

Rodi Bai w/o Jagdish Gameti from Bhalon ka Guda Gram Panchayat of Kurabad block said “ After watching the movies and seeing how women suffer by just having no toilet in and around house, I was relating my own problem too while watching the film like getting up early in the morning to go for defecation and wait till whole day till sun sets, it really painful. Apart from this when we go out we are always feel fear of panther attacking too…. I have started the construction and will complete by 20^th February to come over with such problems and live a dignified life.

Hudi bai w/o Chatra Ji from Sankroda Gram Panchayat said “ I went to Udaipur to watch the movie which is very emotional and inspiring. The movie highlighted the daily struggle of women like me for not having a toilet close to our house. I told to my husband many times to construct the toilet but he denied but after watching the film I strongly communicated and share why we need to have a toilet. My son and daughter-in-law now started the toilet construction work and we will complete the construction soon.

After watching the film, in last one week or so more than 50 women with their families started construction of toilets in this remote tribal region of the Udaipur district.

Udaipur Zilla Parishad CEO Avichal Chaturvedi said “Government with support from international agencies like Wells for India and UNICEF are trying to change the age old mindset in Udaipur district. Film like Gutru Guturgun is one the best way to bring change with entertainment”.

Prateek Sharma Director of the film after hearing the story of women starting construction of toilets said “Such stories especially from remote regions of Udaipur district are always inspirational and it also justifies our efforts when we hear the changes on ground”.