For residents of Karnataka’s Bidar district, defecating in the open isn’t just born out of necessity; it’s a way of life. “They think it’s the natural way of doing things,” explains obstetrician Dr Indumati Patil. That’s exactly the kind of thinking that Patil is out to change. Since April this year, the Bidar-based doctor has been responsible for the construction of toilets in 4,000 homes in Bidar and an additional 6,000 in Gulbarga, Raichur and other districts of Northern Karnataka with the help of the Infosys Foundation.

Karnataka-based obstetrician Dr Indumati Patil (right) with Sudha Murthy. Since April, Dr Patil has been responsible for the construction of toilets in 4,000 homes in Bidar and an additional 6,000 in Gulbarga, Raichur and other districts of Northern Karnataka