Fun + Meaning2 = 2030 semi finals

Impacting Half a Billion Lives

Hygiene and sanitation are the two basic requirements imperative to ensure public health, yet over 29% of urban families and 77 % of rural families (2001 census) in India do not have access to toilets. The open defecation and modern flush and water toilets and sewage system are a part of environmental problem not a solution, since these waste lots of resources. In order to address the issue of public hygiene and sanitation, the concept of the proposed toilet is based on the separation of urine and faeces which help prevent the toilet from smelling and address the issue of sanitation. It involves creating 1-2 meter deep pit in the ground which is covered by a “ring beam” made of bricks or concrete which strengthens the pit head and reduces the effects of erosion and pit flooding from rainwater. The physical structure of the latrine is designed to be portable, unlike more conventional latrines. Around these toilets trees like Willow and other nutrient-hungry plants can be planted. These trees ensure rapid conversion of faeces into Biomass. The lavatory is used until the pit is nearly full, after which the structure, slab and ring beam are removed and the ring beam is placed on another suitable site nearby and a new pit dug within the beam. The compost collected in pits can either be sold or used by villagers for various agricultural needs replacing expensive chemical fertilisers A sensitive issue like this can not be addressed and achieved without participation of local population. In line to this following steps can be taken - • Discussions/education forums with local people to ensure understanding of the new facilities and awareness of cultural aspects attached this issue. • Creation of self help groups with training to deal with toilet maintenance and compost disposal. These toilets address most aspects of the holistic cycle: • Save water and prevent contamination of water sources and increases soil fertility, thus improving food crop yields. • Simple in design and can be built using local labour and materials. They use appropriate, sustainable technology and are operational at home and village level. • Great benefit to the whole family, particularly women and girls. The method and concept is simple and yet retains the basic elements of ecological sanitation, it can be thought of as a good first step along a route of increasing sophistication within the realm of ecological sanitation.

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