SulabhENVIS Centre - Database Detail

This famous statement made by the first Prime-Minister of India, and one of the leading statesman of 20th century has been made true, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially by Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, under the able leadership of its Founder, Honourable Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak.

Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, founded by Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak in the year 1970, is the largest nationally and internationally recognised pan-India social service outfit with 50,000 volunteers on the rolls who work to promote human rights, environmental sanitation, health and hygiene, non-conventional sources of energy, waste management and social reforms through education, training and awareness campaign. It has developed a scavenging-free twin-pit pour flush toilet (Sulabh Shauchalaya); safe and hygienic on-site human waste disposal technology; a new concept of maintenance and construction of pay-&use public toilets, popularly known as Sulabh Complexes with bath, laundry and urinal facilities being used by about ten million people every day and generation of biogas and biofertiliser produced from human excreta-based plants, low maintenance waste water treatment plants of medium capacity for institutions and industries. It has set up an English-medium public school in New Delhi and also a network of centres all over the country to train boys and girls from poor families, specially scavengers, so that they can compete in open job market. Sulabh has thus set up a modern, humane social order based on goodwill and mutual cooperation. The United Nations Centre for Human Settlements has recognised Sulabh's cost-effective and appropriate sanitation system as a global 'Urban Best Practice' at the Habitat-II conference held at Istanbul (Turkey), in June, 1996. The Economic and Social Council of United Nations has granted Special Consultative Status to Sulabh in recognition of its outstanding service to mankind. The United Nation centre for Human settlement and Dubai Municipality award out of 1100 entries from 125 countries have conferred cost-effective best sanitation technology to Sulabh with $ 30,000 and a Gold Trophy . His holiness John Pope Paul II gave audience to Dr. Pathak at the time of conferring the Saint Francis Prize (canticle for all creatures)

The Sulabh has liberated so far 50,000 scavengers from the demeaning practice of physically cleaning and carrying human excreta. Sulabh has set up more than 5,500 pay-&-use community toilet complexes and about 10,00,000's Toilets in private houses which together are being used by more than ten million people every day. This novel self-sustaining system has also helped in ending the uncivilized practice of open-air defecation and keeping the urban life clean and livable, creating enormous impact on the environment and life of the people, specially those living in squatter colonies, the houseless and the people on the move or those at places of congregation. Sulabh is also producing and using biogas from human excreta from its 102 plants which is again an innovation in the areas of non-conventional energy.

Today, Sulabh, a non-governmental organisation has built 1,200,000 toilets and 5,500 community public toilet complexes which are used by approximately 10 million people everyday throughout the country. This success has lead to the liberation and rehabilitation of 60,000 scavengers in India. Besides, the organisation has also successfully researched and developed alternative bio-energy sources generated from wastes. These technologies, innovations and methodologies are sustainable, replicable and affordable and they are recommended by the WHO, World Bank / UNDP etc. for adoption in all Third World countries. While giving shape to its dream projects, Sulabh has established coordination with various national and international agencies, including British Council, USAID, BORDA, a German organisation, Commission of European Union, Belgium, GERES, France, CEEIC, HRIEE, China and Haskoning and Euroconsult, a Dutch firm. Sulabh's is a major initiative towards setting up a clean living environment, making possible a good and productive community life in a new and discrimination-free social order.

Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak studied various designs of latrines and work done in this field in India and abroad and developed Sulabh Shauchalaya-technology, which is technologically appropriate, socio-culturally acceptable and economically affordable. It is low cost, requires only two litres of water to flush and can function even where enough water is not available. It does not require the service of scavengers nor does it pollute air and it provides manure on the spot, can be cleaned and easily maintained by house-owners themselves. The two pits work alternately. It has a high potential for upgradation i.e. can be easily connected to sewer when introduced in the area. The Government of India, State governments, various national, bilateral and international agencies like UNICEF, WHO,UNDP / World Bank etc. have accepted that Sulabh Shauchalaya (twin pit pour-flush latrine) is the most appropriate low-cost technological option. They have suggested the adoption of this system in India and other developing countries. The Govt. of India has included low-cost sanitation as a component in the Integrated Development of Small and Medium Towns (IDSMT) Programme. The Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) has also started giving financial assistance for low-cost sanitation to various categories of beneficiaries.

Studies reveal that over 50 infections can be transmitted from a diseased person to a healthy one by various direct or indirect routes from human excreta. A large number of deaths in India are from diarrhoeal diseases. The impact of safe disposal of human excreta on health has been significant in reducing morbidity and mortality from gastro-enteric diseases and helminthic infections. Out of 950 million people, 700 million either defecate in the open or use insanitary bucket or dry privies exposing the entire community to health hazards and foul environment. The number of bucket and dry privies in India is about 7.64 millions, of which nearly 5.4 millions are in urban India and most in rural area.

Sulabh International is engaged in the development of new and sustainable technologies, demonstration and dissemination, training and consultancy in the fields of low-cost sanitation, low cost waste water treatment, solid waste management, environment and pollution study, etc.

The institute is backed by large number of qualified scientists and engineers. The following are shining examples of the innovative research and development that has gone into making Sulabh International a respected name in the field of Hygiene, Sanitation and Sewage treatment, not only in India but throughout the World.

Duckweed (Lemnaceae) is an aquatic plant which can grow prolifically in conducive temperature range of 15°C to 30°C, doubling its weight within 2 – 4 days. Its yield can be around 1 tones/ hectare/ day. Since Duckweed requires Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium for their growth and sewage contains these nutrients in plenty, it is very effective technology for treatment of wastewater. In the Duckweed pond both anaerobic reactions and the activity of Duckweed are responsible for removal of carbonaceous matter as well as nutrients and trace metals. Duckweed has tremendous ability to reduce Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), suspended solids, heavy metals and even toxic elements and some pathogenic microorganisms from the waste water. It is a complete feed for fish and due to high content of proteins and vitamins A & C, it is a highly nutritious feed for poultry and animals. The yield of fish increases by two to three times when fed with duckweed than that with conventional feeds in ponds. Sulabh has taken up 3 demonstration-cum-study projects in collaboration with the All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Calcutta. Three urban project located at Delhi and Halisahar in West Bengal is funded by the Central Pollution Control Board. The other two in rural areas are being funded by the Ministry of Rural Areas and Employment, Govt. of India and the royal Danish Embassy. These are being carried out in the States of Haryana and Orissa respectively.

Sulabh biogas plant in its present form consists of an inlet chamber, an anaerobic digester and an outlet chamber. The digester is cylindrical with arched bottom and domed top and is installed underground. Excreta from the toilet seats flow under gravity through covered drains into the inlet chamber and then into the digester. The digested slurry comes out of the digester through the outlet pipe, reaches the outlet chamber and then flows out through covered drains into soak pits. A large round air-tight manhole is provided at the top of the digester for facilitating cleaning (desludging), and other maintenance jobs, as also, investigation of any problem during operation of digester. The gas outlet pipe and a safety pipe is attached to the manhole.

Alternative arrangement may also be made for the final disposal of the effluent, depending upon site conditions. For example, the digested effluent may be diluted with sullage and used for irrigating lawns, flower beds or orchards. Sludge drying beds are constructed if site conditions permit.

Biogas is stored under the fixed dome by hydraulic displacement of the digesting slurry inside the digester. Alternatively, the gas may also be stored in a separate drum floating over water. In the latter case, pressure of the gas is regulated which facilitates its use. Therefore, separate gas holder is desirable, especially for the large plants, inspite of the additional cost factor.

(A) Based on this design, 102 biogas plants have been constructed by Sulabh in different states of the country so far. Per day biogas production capacity of these digesters varies from 30 to 60 cum.

(B) Biogas is utilised for cooking, lighting through mantle lamps, electricity generation, body warming during winter.

(C) A public convenience visited by about 2000 persons per day would produce approximately 60 cum of biogas which can run a 10 KVA genset for 8 hours a day, producing 65 units of power. Electricity generated from biogas is being supplied from dawn to dusk around the famous Gandhi Maidan, Patna (Bihar a State in India) and at the bus stand Ranchi (Bihar) for lighting.

The effluent of biogas plant is a good liquid manure as it contains good percentage of nitrogen, potash and phosphorus besides many micronutrients required by plants. But the presence of bacterial pathogens and bad odour and colour of such effluent hinder its use as manure. Since Sulabh is maintaining over 5,500 public toilets all over the country, it was a major challenge to make such effluent free from pathogens, odour and colour without affecting its percentage composition of plant nutrients.

After a series of experiments Sulabh International has developed a new technology for effluent treatment that makes effluent free from odour, colour and pathogens. The technology named as SET (Sulabh Effluent Treatment) is based on filtration of effluent through activated charcoal followed by ultra violet rays. It reduces BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) of affluent from >200 mg/1 to <10 mg/1, quite safe for aquaculture and agricultural uses or discharge into any water body. This decentralized system of treatment of wastewater is cost effective and can help a lot to local governments reduce financial burden to treat wastewater qualitatively.

Water hyacinth is an aquatic, seasonal and problematic weed of national concern. The Government of India formulated a Task Force to get rid of this weed. However, it has an advantage that it is a good substrate for biogas generation. Since this weed is seasonal, biogas plant based on this feed becomes non-functional during summer due to non availability of this weed. This organisation has successfully demonstrated that biogas can be produced from this weed throughout the year after harvesting, drying and pulverising. The pulverised weed can be easily transported and used for biogas generation throughout the year. The Institute has also carried out a series of experiments on biogas generation from vegetables / fruit wastes and house-hold kitchen wastes with or without mixing with human waste. Better results were obtained when human waste and vegetable waste were fed in combination. It showed an additive effect.

The Sulabh International Institute of Technical Research & Training is engaged in low-cost technology optimisation to make it more cost effective and efficient. Pollution of ground water and soil likely to occur from low-cost on-site sanitation is also being studied. Such a study was carried out near Calcutta with radio isotope tracers in collaboration with the All India Institute of Hygiene & Public Health, Calcutta and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay.

The Institute has also carried out studies on migration of pathogens to the soil surrounding the leach pits as well as on the percentage viability of different pathogens in the pits with respect to retention time of human waste. The studies have revealed that there is near complete absence of pathogens from digested sludge of the pit when taken out after two years of rest period. Sometimes cysts of helminthes persist even after two years. When the sludge is sun-dried for 2-3 weeks, it becomes free from all pathogens. The dried and granulated manure is odourless and completely free from pathogens.

The Institute has developed a technology to granulate dried lumps into small size graded granules which look like processed tea leaves. Before granulating, it is processed in a ball mill to break into small pieces. then it is passed through the mass mixer where moisture content of manure is regulated by adding water. Such manure had good percentage of plant nutrients. Besides, it increases humus and water holding capacity of the soil. The Institute has carried out studies to assess its manurial effects on different vegetables and flowering plants. In all the cases tested, effect of manure on the growth was very encouraging.

Biogas digester has a good plant nutrient value. It can be directly used for irrigating grass lawns, flower beds or even for agricultural purposes. The institute has successfully demonstrated its use as hydroponics i.e. soil-less culture of plants. The effluent is first dried in earthen pots kept in sunlight where by evaporation concentration of effluent increases. It is filtered with thin plastic mesh. Some trace elements are added in the filtered effluent. Such liquid effluent is completely odourless. Various plants have been grown exclusively on such effluent when mixed (5 to 10% by volume) with tap water. Plants can be grown in glass bottles or any other jars and kept inside or outside room. Such technology is useful for the culture of rare plants like cactus sps and other ornamental plants.

Vermi-composting utilizes earthworms for the treatment of domestic wastewater. Earthworms have been called natural bioreactors. Earthworms produce both microorganisms and enzymes that break down complex bio molecules into simpler compounds which are utilized by other microorganisms. Earthworms feed on waste and grind it into small particles of sizes 2 – 4 m (micron, which can be utilized by microbial population residing inside earthworms. Aerobic conditions are maintained therefore no external oxygen is required. Earthworms produce vermi castings with immobilized microflora and nutrients which can be used as biofertilizer. Vermi-composting is an important method for composting vegetable wastes. the method is more suitable for rural areas. This Institute has successfully demonstrated this technology. Vermi-compost has comparatively higher nitrogen content. The Institute is engaged in minimising the time requirement by enhancing the growth rate of vermi worms.

The point 11 in the Govt. of India's 20-Point Programme of 1986 relates to 'Justice to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes'. It is aimed at eradication of scavenging and undertaking special programmes for the rehabilitation of scavengers. Sulabh is fully involved in achieving this objective. Till now Sulabh International has made 240 towns scavenging free in various states. It has constructed about over one million Sulabh Shauchalayas all over the country. About 60,000 scavengers have so far been relieved from the demeaning practice of manual handling of human waste.

Sulabh International Social Service Organisation is a leading non-governmental organisation which takes up liberation of scavengers by conversion of dry/bucket privies into Sulabh Shauchalaya and training and rehabilitation of liberated scavengers and their wards. Sulabh organises programmes to train them in various vocations such as driving, mechanics, tailoring, typing, computer, cane work, carpentry, leather work, masons etc. they are also educated on health, sanitation and personal hygiene. Sulabh established the training institutes exclusively for scavengers at Patna and Mahavir Enclave, New Delhi. It has also established such an institute at Jambol Distt., Thane, in collaboration with the State government and is running it successfully. So far 6,000 scavengar families have been covered under aprox this program.

The liberation of scavengers and their rehabilitation in other professions is not enough; no less important is the upgradation of their social status so that they can be absorbed into the mainstream of the society. Towards that end, Sulabh has persuaded a large number of eminent persons including judges, politicians, ministers, journalists and social workers to "socially adopt" one scavenger family each and help them to get jobs and other benefits permissible under the law. The adoptor visits the adoptee (and vice versa) openly so that they can get the social respectability. This programme is getting a very encouraging response.

In October 1988, Dr. Pathak visited the Nathdwara temple in Udaipur (Rajasthan) alongwith 100 scavengers and some Vedic Brahmins. Earlier, Harijans were not allowed to enter this temple. Dr. Pathak organised Puja and arranged community meals with Harijans, both at Patna and in Delhi. Participation of the so-called high-caste people in such functions was an indication that Dr. Pathak succeeded in bringing about a measure of change in the society, dominated by orthodox caste Hindus.

Skill developments is important for all but it is crucial for the less educated. To the members of Scheduled Castes, including Balmikis, it has a pointed relevance. Not only are they low in litracy and education but also they have few skills which can come up to the standards of market demands.

The range of skills which Balmikis are endowed with are such traditional crafts as sanitation, midwifery, leather work, basket-making, etc. Most of these works are low paying and considered unclean jobs. This has somehow lowered their status in society and given rise to untouchability. Ironically, several legal and voluntary efforts for the eradication of scavenging have added to their problems, requiring their occupational rehabilitation.

Considering the enormity of the problem for occupational rehabilitation Sulabh has paid a pointed attention to skill development and Vocational Training of the wards of Balmikis. For them in 1992 a Vocational Training Centre was set up in Delhi. The training Centre aspires to provide skill development training to the boys and girls from weaker sections, so that their talent and potential, to the fullest extent, could be exploited to achieve better economic and social adjustment. The Centre is located in Mahavir Enclave of Palam Village, the area being mostly inhabited by persons from lower socio-economic strata. At present, three Training Centre offers training in market-relevant trades :

Each course is of six months, except Driving which is of two months' duration. Most of these trades are evaluated by ITI staff and certificates are awarded by the Directorate of Training and Technical Education, NCT of Delhi.