First day of internship! Wow…mixed feelings. It’s been 2 days since I landed and am feeling a little better. My roomies are pretty chill people and supportive. Even though its freezing here, the sun outside during the day was definitely reassuring (Hhaha….didnt expect to be missing the sun this much!) The internship was at Sulabh International – an amazing self sustaining non-profit organization. The word “Sulabh” in itself means easy in Hindi. Before I scribble down my experiences, let me tell a little about the organization. Scavenging is manual removal of excreta from "dry toilets", i.e., toilet without the modern flush system, which very much exists in the Indian subcontinent ( rural areas). Even though the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines Act, 1993 punishes the employment of scavengers or the construction of dry (non-flush) latrines with imprisonment for up to one year and/or a fine of Rs 2,000, it sadly still does prevail. Manual scavenging involves removing human and animal excreta using brooms, small tin plates, and baskets that are carried on the head. Refusal to perform such tasks leads to physical abuse and social boycott. Manual scavenging involves removing human and animal excreta using brooms, small tin plates, and baskets that are carried on the head. Refusal to perform such tasks leads to physical abuse and social boycott. In the absence of an adequate economic alternative, it is often seen that manual scavengers are not able to quit their degrading work. In many cases, each family of about 3-4 members only makes about Rs 500 ( around US $11 ONLY) per month by manual scavenging. anual scavengers are exposed to the most virulent forms of viral and bacterial infections that affect their skin, eyes, limbs, respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Tuberculosis is rife among the community, according to the report. Most importantly, surveys have revealed that 95 per cent of the manual scavengers are women and girls. Traditionally, women have been forced to follow this undignified occupation. The Sulabh Movement started with the objective to liberate and elevate the status of scavengers. Towards this, it adopted a two-pronged strategy; a state-of-the-art technology to reach sanitation facilities even to the poorest, and to bring scavengers in the mainstream of Indian society. The Sulabh International, under the inspiring leadership of its Founder, Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, branched into several inter-related activities meant not only to rehabilitate, socially and economically, those weaned away from scavenging, but also to restore their self-esteem and self-respect. Towards this, the Sulabh International Centre for Action Sociology (SICAS) was established in 1993. The main objectives were to develop a systematic understanding of the social, economic and psychological problems of scavengers. I was fortunate enough to meet Dr. Patak, a very pleasant, down to earth yet very charismatic individual who very willingly answered all my questions in detail. With over 30 highly recognized awards and recognitions including the prestigious Padma Bhushan and place in the Limca Book of world records, he feels that the well wishes of the scavengers who he has help liberate is what really means to him.
As soon as Sanjay and I reached Sulabh organization office in Dwarka,they heartily welcomed us and offered us tea and yummy sandwiches! At about 10.30 am, I was lead into the assembly room where the liberated scavengers, trainers and counselors waiting. They made me stand on the podium (embarrassing!!!) and called out my name aloud, and welcomed personally by Dr. Patak, and given a lovely shawl made of Khadi material and sandalwood flower garland! After a very soothing prayer and poems recited by the women working there,Nigaar, who was my tour guide showed me around and I shall brief some highlights of Sulabh, which personally I felt were simply-Awesome =)
As soon as Sanjay and I reached Sulabh organization office in Dwarka,they heartily welcomed us and offered us tea and yummy sandwiches! At about 10.30 am, I was lead into the assembly room where the liberated scavengers, trainers and counselors waiting. They made me stand on the podium (embarrassing!!!) and called out my name aloud, was welcomed personally by Dr. Patak, and given a lovely shawl made of Khadi material and sandalwood flower garland! After a very soothing prayer and poems recited by the women working there,Nigaar, who was my tour guide showed me around and I shall brief some highlights of Sulabh, which personally I felt were simply-Awesome =). The pics in my blogs are just a few I have selected in the interest of time (internet in India is not one of the fastest and it took my hours only to put these pics up, miss my broadband Comcast tooooo much!!!)
4. Talking with the principal of Sulabh public school, who was explaining the open door policy and meals provided to children of the scavengers and people below poverty line.
5. Inside the computer class where children are taught how to use the internet, Microsoft word, Powerpoint etc. The kids were showing these cool presentations they had made for their class projects and I was totally impressed! ( Not sure why the photographer was taking pictures of me like as I were some star...LOL )
5. The liberated women who were given vocational training show their henna tattoo making skills! They are simply experts!
6. The human excreta which comes out from the toilets is now used to produce biogas which helps to generate electricity for 8 continuous hours in about 20 homes in Delhi.
7. Me at the first (probably only) Museum of Toilets looking at the toilet used by aristocratic English men shaped as a chair to remove the taboo associated with using the restroom!!! It was awesome to learn about how toilets were used even during the Indus valley civilization thousands of years ago which used very advanced technology and clear methods of disposal of wastes. The host Varun is a super energetic guy who was very willing to answer a lot of the silly questions I kept asking! The museum displayed the most primitive toilets to the most modern toilets which cost up to $5000 !!!!
8. Visitors looking at the "jute" toilet which is very inexpensive( something like $10) to install and help discourage open defecation is rural parts of India
9. Sulabh has implemented over 1.2 million two-pit toilet, where per flush only 2 litres of water is required. Suppose a 7 person family, per toilet saves about 56 litres of water per flush in comparison to septic tank system. Assuming two times flush per day, a unit saves about 112 litres of water per day i.e. (1.2 X 112 ) million litres = 134.4 million litres per day i.e. 49,056 million litres per annum !!!! WOW.
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