Rs 460 crore sanctioned to 10 states under Swachh Bharat Mission

Domex, a toilet cleaner brand of HUL, announced the launch of Domex Toilet Academy in November 2013. The academy aims to build 24,000 toilets by 2015 in areas faced with the problem of open defecation.

According to HUL, the initiative has reached 850 people in 2013. The project is based on a community partnership model to make it scalable and self sustainable.

In 2013, Domex Toilet Academy launched a pilot project in Junapani, a village in Wardha district in Maharashtra to set up toilets in the village. Over 80 toilets were set up by DTA in Junapani in 2013. The programme was expanded to cover 300 villages in Odisha and 40 more villages in Maharashtra.

In pic: Model toilet in Junapani

Image by HUL

Hindustan Zinc has signed an MoU with the state government of Rajasthan to build 30,000 rural toilets for BPL families under 'Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan' scheme. The construction of these toilets will be completed in 3 years. Hindustan Zinc would be spending about Rs 10 crore towards construction of these 30,000 toilets.

The company has started the construction of these toilets in Bhilwara, Chittorgarh and Udaipur districts of Rajasthan and so far the construction of 9,000 toilets has been completed.

Image by Hindustan Zinc

According to Hindustan Zinc, it is constructing toilets using the 'Leach Pit' technology. There are two 'Leach Pits' below each toilet to facilitate disposal of waste.

Only one 'Leach Pit' is used at a time. Each 'Leach Pit' is estimated to be full in about 5 years. As the first 'Leach Pit' is full, the second 'Leach Pit' will be opened. Within 5 years, the waste in the first 'Leach Pit' will be converted into manure to be utilized by the farmer for agriculture purpose.

The cost of construction of each toilet is Rs 8,500/- where Rs 4600 per toilet is being paid by government, Rs 3000 by Hindustan Zinc and Rs 900 by the beneficiary.

After PM Modi urging corporates, Hindustan Zinc announced that it will construct another set of 10,000 toilets in Rajasthan.

Hindustan Zinc has also launched a social awareness campaign 'Maryadaa', which educates masses, particularly school going children about good sanitation and hygiene habits.

Image by Hindustan Zinc

Dabur and its CSR arm the Sundesh is working towards providing proper sanitation and toilet facilities for rural women.

Through Sundesh, Dabur has identified 5 villages in Ghaziabad and Rudrapur to set up 50 toilets.

Image by Dabur India

This project has been undertaken in partnership with women SHGs, Kissan Clubs and Youth Clubs who help identify the needy families and also partly fund the project.

Dabur's target is to set up 80-100 such toilets this year.

Image by Dabur India

Adani Group has said its already existing CSR project on sanitation in Gujarat will be extended to states where the group is present.

Image by Adani group

The group is planning to expand in Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. Adani Foundation will look at new states for this CSR project as well.

Image by Adani group

Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu has said that bio-toilets developed by DRDO would bring about "a revolution" in rural areas. According to him DRDO's bio-toilets can help Swachh Bharat mission. DRDO had developed the bio-toilets cum bio digester technology for soldiers, in order to facilitate disposal of human waste in an eco-friendly manner at high altitude locations where temperature drops to -40C or lower.

The same technology has been implemented in the form of a Bio-Digester park for a residential complex in Delhi.

Image of a bio-toilet by DRDO

The residential complex caters to sewage treatment of capacity 1.2 KL. The innovation degrades and converts the human waste into usable water and gasses in an eco-friendly manner.

The generated gas can be utilized for energy and cooking, and water for irrigation purposes. If a large number of toilets are connected, sufficient bio-gas can be generated which can be used as alternative energy source.

The potable water supply is based on multi utility water treatment plant. The entire water is recycled for various purposes namely treated flush water for arboriculture, soft water for bathing and washing purposes.

Image of a bio-toilet by DRDO