This park offers one-stop solution to sanitation

The headquarters of the Pali district administration has become a much-talked about office these days in Rajasthan. Just like an ordinary park, the premises of Pali collectorate houses first-of-its-kind sanitation park developed to create awareness and motivate people to end open defecation in rural areas. A large number of visitors throng the park every day and take home the message of sanitation.

The sanitation park has been developed and designed by rural marketing consultancy MART under World Bank’s Water and Sanitation Programme (WSP) in Rajasthan. The project also includes identifying and promoting sanitation entrepreneurs to build toilets in rural households.

“At a time when the state government has declared to make Rajasthan free from open defection by 2017, the sanitation park will be a milestone in this endeavour. The park is a new concept to create awareness and motivating the visitors to end open defecation in the state. It's one-stop destination for sanitation needs,” said Rajnesh Kumar, project team leader of MART.

At least eight designs of toilets ranging from extremely economical groom grass to the Jhumpa toilets and bio-digester model have been displayed at the park. The designs also include innovative sub-structure, mid-structure, superstructure designs and hygienic hand-washing station integrated with the sanitation system. A large number of rural people come every day to the park and local administration also arranges such visits. Any person visiting the park gets complete information on what it takes to construct a toilet. Visitors are told about various toilet models and structures, depending on their affordability. A complete cost break-up, including construction cost, material cost and labour charges, are also given to them. People get first-hand information on sustainability of toilets and use of technology to bring down the total construction cost.
“The toilet designs displayed in the Park have been developed after an extensive survey of the people living in rural areas. Designs are focused on five important factors--affordability, easy availability, sustainability, aspiration of user and no impact on environment,” said Rajnesh.

The park motivates the visitors with several examples of individuals and local panchayats who have done commendable job towards making Rajasthan free from open defecation. A huge wall inside the park displays the name of panchayats that are now free from open defecation. Individual stories of the people, especially women, who went against the family and social taboos to construct toilets in their homes, are also displayed on the wall.

World Bank’s Water and Sanitation Programme (WSP) in Rajasthan also includes identifying sanitation entrepreneurs and ensure easy availability of the toilet designs displayed at the park. So far, MART has identified 10 sanitation entrepreneurs in three districts of Bundi, Sawaimadhopur and Tonk.

“To free the state from open defecation, rural Rajasthan needs at least 7.6 million toilets. It roughly accounts for Rs 13,000-crore business, which is undoubtedly a huge market. Moreover, we identify entrepreneurs so that supply of designs displayed at the park continues without any hurdle,” said Rajnesh. 

According to officials of MART, the entrepreneurs go to rural areas and sell products directly to the people. These entrepreneurs first ask the requirement and affordability of the person and convince him to build the toilets Many times families leave a toilet half-constructed due to various reasons. The working of sanitation entrepreneurs has no scope for such problems. They even complete the half constructed toilets at nominal prices. “Big Model and Free Castle Model of Rs 16,000 and Rs 18,000 respectively are the most sought-after toilets in rural households. Entrepreneurs always suggest people that local resources available in their geographical region may save the total construction cost,” said Rajnesh.

“Many times we suggest people to choose the Groom Grass model and make super structure with dry grass or bamboos. It is the cheapest toilet that costs hardly around Rs 8,000,” he added.

However, the officials of MART and the newly identified entrepreneurs feel that there is dire need to expedite the process of granting government subsidy to the people who construct a toilet in their houses. In many cases people do not go for toilets just due to uncertainty and delay in subsidy given by the government. “In most cases people opt for high-priced toilets thinking they will get subsidy of Rs 12,000 from the government. Our entrepreneurs constructed many toilets on credit as the owner of the house promised to give money when the subsidy is transferred to his account. But it never happened and people along with entrepreneurs are still waiting for the subsidy amount,” said Rajnesh.

MART officials said that before constructing the park, a detailed survey was conducted to know the exact requirement of the people. They were even asked the reasons for not using toilets. During the survey most people preferred to defecate in the open as toilets means wastage of water and loss of money.