By 121 News Reporter
Chandigarh 17th September:- Emami Group pledges to build bio sanitation facilities in remote & backward areas across West Bengal, Orissa, Assam and Uttarakhand over the next three years. A total budget of Rs.15 crores has been earmarked towards the propagation of the cause. Out of this, Rs.5 cr for West Bengal, Rs. 4 cr each for Orissa and Assam and Rs. 2 cr for Uttarakhand, have been allocated to the cause of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
Under this project, bio-toilets developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) would be built in rural and backward areas of the four earmarked states. Bio-toilets are cheap, eco-friendly sewerage where bacteria convert waste to odourless compost. They can also be used in extreme climates. The Bio-Digester technology developed by DRDO is a non-polluting and effective method that degrades and converts human waste in an eco-friendly manner into usable agricultural water and energy gases with 90% reduction of pathogens and organic matter.
Sanitation is the backbone of public health. According to census data, almost 70%-plus rural households in India lack any proper sanitation facility. About 50% of India's population live without access to toilet at home and still defecate in open areas till date. Situation in rural areas is dismal with only 21% using improved sanitation facilities. Such poor sanitary condition is a major hygiene concern for the nation and makes people, especially children vulnerable to major health hazards like diarrhoea, typhoid, viral hepatitis, encephalitis and other sanitation related diseases. Improving access to sanitation is a critical step towards reducing the impact of these diseases. It also helps create physical environments that enhance safety, dignity and self-esteem.
Sushil Goenka, Managing Director, Emami Limited said that the prevailing abysmal standard of sanitation & waste management in India, especially in rural areas poses a major health hazard. As a responsible corporate citizen, we have decided to build bio green toilets in rural areas across four states, where we operate in. Conventional sewerage treatment plants requiring uninterrupted electricity supply is an expensive proposition for rural communities and the widely used alternative of pit-based sanitation that compost human waste is a labour intensive option resulting in transmission of diseases and other problems. Hence we feel that bio-toilets are the perfect way to bring about a clean revolution in rural India to achieve the target of ending open defecation in the country a reality. Sushil Goenka added, that we believe only construction of toilets is not enough to bring change. It has to be a holistic approach through behavioural change communication program along with acceleration of sanitation through construction of toilets. Hence, we will launch an awareness campaign initially in West Bengal in the first phase. Next we plan to expand its reach to the adjacent areas of all our manufacturing units finally rounding it up with Pan India coverage.
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