On the occasion of World Toilet Day on 19 November 2023, this special edition of Outlook celebrates the success of sanitation workers in the face of adversity.
This special edition plots a complete 360° view of the sanitation and scavenging landscape in India, its high points and the heights yet to be scaled.
In an interview on the occasion of the World Toilet Day on November 19, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Jal Shakti, gives a snapshot of the country’s exciting sanitation success story.
On a global stage where sanitation is recognised as the linchpin of public health, India is pushing boundaries by redefining sanitation as the ‘New Health’ with its transformational mission for a cleaner, healthier and happier world
The Harpic World Toilet College is enhancing sanitation workers’ skills and empowering them to lead a life of dignity while earning better remuneration
Equipped with sanitation knowledge, they can become change agents, spreading awareness and promoting healthier practices
The Gramalaya-led initiative seeks to educate, empower and emancipate women from menstruation-related health issues and make sustainable menstrual products affordable and accessible to everyone in the country
Dr Nageshwar Reddy is a renowned gastroenterologist and chairman of the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology and AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad. He was a recipient of the Padma Shri Award in 2002. In an exclusive interview, Dr Reddy unravels the intricate relationship between gut health and sanitation and the role of bacteria in human life
While we are constantly bombarded with new diet fads, including the increasingly popular gluten-free diet, gut health gets overlooked often
From Mahatma Gandhi’s vision to modern-day initiatives, the government prioritises cleanliness and hygiene, collaborating with private sector organisations like Reckitt to achieve holistic health goals
Private sector companies, especially start-ups, are being incentivised to get into the waste management business
All the levels of governance in the country, from the Centre to the urban local bodies, are putting their heads and resources together to realise the goal of Swachh Bharat
As we look ahead to the future, we must remember that progress is not measured solely by the number of toilets built but by the transformation of lives, the empowerment of communities and the preservation of every sanitation worker’s dignity
The story of Swachh Bharat Mission is not just about statistics; it is a tale of resilience, compassion and the unwavering belief that change is possible
With a human-centric, playful approach towards sanitation, children can not only shape the present but also sculpt a dynamic, sustainable future
From creating clean toilets to changing perceptions, Harpic is making a remarkable difference to India’s sanitation landscape
Inadequate management or mismanagement of sanitation services has direct as well as indirect impacts on climate change
Inspired by manhole covers in Japan, the Harpic World Toilet College (HWTC) logo associates toilets with fine art, an aesthetic reminder that beauty can indeed bloom amidst dirt, much like the lotus.
Harpic World Toilet College works for improvement across the entire sanitation value chain to enable workers to build a life of safety, dignity and better remuneration
Kukuram and Mukesh Kumar, both sanitation workers, beat daunting odds to strike gold and silver at the international bodybuilding championship in Thailand
Everyone has similar sanitation needs, and a well-designed and maintained facility should cater to all users.
Harpic World Toilet College, with its vocational and life skills training, is transforming the lives of its alumni and their families, seeding a more just social order
While our journey towards achieving comprehensive WASH goals may not be complete, we are undeniably well on our way
Despite the gains, India’s vast sanitation workforce remains unrecognised and overlooked. When it does get attention, it is for the wrong reasons
From women-only pink toilets to multi-utility secure sanitation complexes, the sanitation journey in India is not only proving to be utilitarian but also empowering for women
V. Srinivas Chary, professor and centre director of the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), a top institution for India’s public policy and capacity development, throws light on the challenges in the sanitation sector in India. Excerpts:
Tech innovations are set to revolutionise the sanitation sector. Significantly improving the safety and dignity of workers
India was fortunate to have many national champions in sanitation, from Mahatma Gandhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The India Sanitation Coalition has made noticeable progress in advancing WASH initiatives initiatives across India
Harpic World Toilet College (HWTC) is driven by a mission to transform the lives of sanitation workers by giving them dignified living, including uplifting most vulnerable and marginalised sections of the society, eliminating the inhuman practice of manual scavenging and working towards “Zero Incident, Zero Accident” of sanitation workers
The timing of the Swachh Bharat programme was perfect. It came when India and her people were ready for this transformation
