One Man’s DifferenceOne Man’s Difference

Water, Sanitation and the FutureWater, Sanitation and the Future

Mohan K. TikkuMohan K. Tikku

Gandhi’s Unfinished AgendaGandhi’s Unfinished Agenda

1969 : Gandhi Birth Centenary Year1969 : Gandhi Birth Centenary Year Gandhi had worked for emancipation of the Gandhi had worked for emancipation of the

manual scavengersmanual scavengers He called them ‘Harijans’ (God’s own people)He called them ‘Harijans’ (God’s own people) They remained part of his Unfinished AgendaThey remained part of his Unfinished Agenda

PlightPlight

Not much had changed Not much had changed for these people even for these people even after centuries of toilet after centuries of toilet cleaningcleaning

In 1970, Bindeshwari In 1970, Bindeshwari Pathak, then 27, who had Pathak, then 27, who had been a volunteer during been a volunteer during the centenary the centenary celebrations, set out to do celebrations, set out to do moremore

A New InitiativeA New Initiative

Pathak designed a toilet that was easy to build, Pathak designed a toilet that was easy to build, cheap to maintain, using minimal quantities of cheap to maintain, using minimal quantities of waterwater

He called it SULABHHe called it SULABH SULABH = Easy to Access and AffordSULABH = Easy to Access and Afford Registered as an NGO, SULABH soon Registered as an NGO, SULABH soon

became a movementbecame a movement

Four Decades LaterFour Decades Later

SULABH has since built tens of thousands of SULABH has since built tens of thousands of private home toilets, and 7,500 community private home toilets, and 7,500 community toilets using its technologies of waste toilets using its technologies of waste managementmanagement

More than ten million people use SULABH More than ten million people use SULABH toilets across the country every daytoilets across the country every day

Community Toilet Community Toilet

SULABH : Financial Policy SULABH : Financial Policy

SULABH does not accept any private SULABH does not accept any private donationsdonations

It does not take any government grantsIt does not take any government grants It just wants to be paid for what it buildsIt just wants to be paid for what it builds Acting so, it has generated enough funds to Acting so, it has generated enough funds to

finance a variety of welfare schemes for finance a variety of welfare schemes for improving the living conditions of these improving the living conditions of these peoplepeople

SULABH AbroadSULABH Abroad

UN Habitat has recognized SULABH as among the UN Habitat has recognized SULABH as among the Best Practices for wider propagationBest Practices for wider propagation

SULABH technologies have since been used in a SULABH technologies have since been used in a number of countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan, number of countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Kenya, Mozambique, Ethiopia and AngolaKenya, Mozambique, Ethiopia and Angola

Madagascar, Dominican Republic, Laos and Madagascar, Dominican Republic, Laos and Cambodia are next on the listCambodia are next on the list

Recently, SULABH built toilet a complex in Kabul at Recently, SULABH built toilet a complex in Kabul at the request of the Afghan governmentthe request of the Afghan government

SULABH’s PhilosophySULABH’s Philosophy

Manual scavenging has been banned by law in Manual scavenging has been banned by law in India, yet a few million people are still India, yet a few million people are still following their traditional activityfollowing their traditional activity

It is important to release these people from the It is important to release these people from the degradation of their traditional roles and degradation of their traditional roles and training them for alternate jobstraining them for alternate jobs

Like HereLike Here

Or HereOr Here

Or good schools for their childrenOr good schools for their children

But…But…

It is equally important to raise their sense of It is equally important to raise their sense of Self WorthSelf Worth

Last year, Pathak picked up 36 women who Last year, Pathak picked up 36 women who had been scavenging for countless generationshad been scavenging for countless generations

He put them through a short spell of training, He put them through a short spell of training, and then….and then….

Onward to the UNOnward to the UN

And then, with assistance from Prince Orange And then, with assistance from Prince Orange of Holland and the UN, he brought them to of Holland and the UN, he brought them to New York to participate in a contest New York to participate in a contest

They walked the ramp alongside professional They walked the ramp alongside professional modelsmodels

It was called Mission SanitationIt was called Mission Sanitation It became a media eventIt became a media event

Mission SanitationMission Sanitation

The WinnerThe Winner

Celebrating LiberationCelebrating Liberation

Meet the PresidentMeet the President

Padma Vibhushan (1991)Padma Vibhushan (1991)

St. Francis Prize (1992)St. Francis Prize (1992)

Renewable EnergyRenewable Energy

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

The AwardThe Award

Water PrizeWater Prize

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

And finally…And finally…

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

Thank You!Thank You!