One Mans Difference Water, Sanitation and the Future Mohan K. Tikku

Gandhis Unfinished Agenda 1969 : Gandhi Birth Centenary Year 1969 : Gandhi Birth Centenary Year Gandhi had worked for emancipation of the manual scavengers Gandhi had worked for emancipation of the manual scavengers He called them Harijans (Gods own people) He called them Harijans (Gods own people) They remained part of his Unfinished Agenda They remained part of his Unfinished Agenda

Plight Not much had changed for these people even after centuries of toilet cleaning Not much had changed for these people even after centuries of toilet cleaning In 1970, Bindeshwari Pathak, then 27, who had been a volunteer during the centenary celebrations, set out to do more In 1970, Bindeshwari Pathak, then 27, who had been a volunteer during the centenary celebrations, set out to do more

A New Initiative Pathak designed a toilet that was easy to build, cheap to maintain, using minimal quantities of water Pathak designed a toilet that was easy to build, cheap to maintain, using minimal quantities of water He called it SULABH He called it SULABH SULABH = Easy to Access and Afford SULABH = Easy to Access and Afford Registered as an NGO, SULABH soon became a movement Registered as an NGO, SULABH soon became a movement

Four Decades Later SULABH has since built tens of thousands of private home toilets, and 7,500 community toilets using its technologies of waste management SULABH has since built tens of thousands of private home toilets, and 7,500 community toilets using its technologies of waste management More than ten million people use SULABH toilets across the country every day More than ten million people use SULABH toilets across the country every day

Community Toilet

SULABH : Financial Policy SULABH does not accept any private donations SULABH does not accept any private donations It does not take any government grants It does not take any government grants It just wants to be paid for what it builds It just wants to be paid for what it builds Acting so, it has generated enough funds to finance a variety of welfare schemes for improving the living conditions of these people Acting so, it has generated enough funds to finance a variety of welfare schemes for improving the living conditions of these people

SULABH Abroad UN Habitat has recognized SULABH as among the Best Practices for wider propagation UN Habitat has recognized SULABH as among the Best Practices for wider propagation SULABH technologies have since been used in a number of countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Kenya, Mozambique, Ethiopia and Angola SULABH technologies have since been used in a number of countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Kenya, Mozambique, Ethiopia and Angola Madagascar, Dominican Republic, Laos and Cambodia are next on the list Madagascar, Dominican Republic, Laos and Cambodia are next on the list Recently, SULABH built toilet a complex in Kabul at the request of the Afghan government Recently, SULABH built toilet a complex in Kabul at the request of the Afghan government

SULABHs Philosophy Manual scavenging has been banned by law in India, yet a few million people are still following their traditional activity Manual scavenging has been banned by law in India, yet a few million people are still following their traditional activity It is important to release these people from the degradation of their traditional roles and training them for alternate jobs It is important to release these people from the degradation of their traditional roles and training them for alternate jobs

Like Here

Or Here

Or good schools for their children

But… It is equally important to raise their sense of Self Worth It is equally important to raise their sense of Self Worth Last year, Pathak picked up 36 women who had been scavenging for countless generations Last year, Pathak picked up 36 women who had been scavenging for countless generations He put them through a short spell of training, and then…. He put them through a short spell of training, and then….

Onward to the UN And then, with assistance from Prince Orange of Holland and the UN, he brought them to New York to participate in a contest And then, with assistance from Prince Orange of Holland and the UN, he brought them to New York to participate in a contest They walked the ramp alongside professional models They walked the ramp alongside professional models It was called Mission Sanitation It was called Mission Sanitation It became a media event It became a media event

Mission Sanitation

The Winner

Celebrating Liberation

Meet the President

Padma Vibhushan (1991)

St. Francis Prize (1992)

Renewable Energy Last month (June 2009), Pathak was given the Renewable Energy Prize by the Inter- Governmental Renewable Energy Organization (IREO) at a ceremony at the United Nations. It was given in recognition of his work in using human waste for producing energy. The Prize was handed by American actor Darren Moore Last month (June 2009), Pathak was given the Renewable Energy Prize by the Inter- Governmental Renewable Energy Organization (IREO) at a ceremony at the United Nations. It was given in recognition of his work in using human waste for producing energy. The Prize was handed by American actor Darren Moore

The Award

Water Prize Next month (August 2009), Pathak is to receive the International Water Prize from King Carlos of Sweden in Stockholm Next month (August 2009), Pathak is to receive the International Water Prize from King Carlos of Sweden in Stockholm

And finally… And finally, Pathak has agreed to associate with our Future Studies program in India And finally, Pathak has agreed to associate with our Future Studies program in India

Thank You!