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Action Sociology: Human Rights with Sanitation
Somik Raha
Ever since independence (and from a long time before that), people in India have been appalled with the abuse of the caste system, especially the poor treatment meted out to "untouchables." As usual, well-meaning people think they can change attitudes by passing laws. And so, India has The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, which punishes the preaching and practice of untouchability. Needless to say, the act made little difference on the ground in terms of changing people's attitudes.
There is no dearth of angry activism on this issue in India and outside, and as is the nature of all angry activism, the message is so loud that people close their ears and ignore it. Meanwhile, India's politicians are more interested in maintaining the status quo and milking caste divisions for votes instead of working for the welfare of the "untouchables." In this hopeless scenario, one man is running a silent revolution with a lot of success.
This is the story of Bindeshwar Pathak, whose life transformed as a young man in the 60s, when he was told by the General Secretary of a Gandhian organization that it was Gandhi's unfinished work to remove the profession of manual scavenging from India and liberate the untouchables. The General Secretary told the young Pathak that he had to finish Gandhi's mission and added, "I see light in you." The young man had no clue what this meant, but he read a few books published by the WHO on sanitation, and decided to live in a scavenger's colony for two months to understand them and their problems. People thought he was crazy. He survived, and came back with an understanding that was different from any social activist in this field.
He felt that the discrimination of the untouchables was due to technical reasons. The untouchables, or manual scavengers of toilets, were considered dirty as they dealt with human excreta while cleaning "bucket toilets." Human excreta would be pulled out of such toilets into buckets and then, scavengers would carry buckets on their heads to a location for disposal. If there could be an alternate toilet designed to be self-cleaning, then it would be cheaper for the consumer as they wouldn't need to hire people to clean it. It would also eliminate the need for the scavenging profession.
Pathak started "Sulabh" (which means "easy") to address this. He came up with the two-pit pour-flush toilet which would work in the Indian context. One pit would be in use at a time. Once the pit was full, it would would be closed and the other would be in operation. Over a year, the first pit's contents would turn into manure and could be used as fertilizer in the field. Thus, there would be no need to scavenge and clean these toilets. Sulabh's toilet product turned out to be a great hit, with over a million pieces already sold. Sulabh then channeled their profits toward retraining the untouchables to enter mainstream society - as cooks, beauticians, electricians, etc. Today, Sulabh has a whole array of toilet products to suit your budget.
Pathak also felt strongly about the problem of open defecation. Unlike those who faulted the "Indian civic sense," he recognized that the problem was that we didn't have enough public toilets. This is also a question of human dignity, especially for women, as they would suppress the call of nature the whole day and only go very early in the morning or in the night. Even so, such trips would make them a target of sexual predators, snakebites, diseases due to defecating in unhygienic environs, etc., not to speak of the health problems that come from suppressing the call of nature the entire day. Again, this was a technical problem waiting to be solved. So, he started the first public toilet in (hold your breath) Arrah, Bihar, a state where people would rather travel on top of trains than buy tickets. Pathak believed people would pay for a clean toilet experience, and he was proved right. The people of Bihar paid and sustained the public toilets. Today, Sulabh has built over 5000 public toilets all over India, including the largest toilet in the world at Shirdi for pilgrims.
Not only do these toilets generate local employment, they also collect raw material for Sulabh's energy innovation - bio-gas and electricity production. You have to see it with your own eyes - yes, your excreta can now be used to produce cooking gas and electricity.
Pathakji also understood that he needed to help the children of the scavengers get the same opportunity as others. Sulabh uses its profits to run a school where children of the scavengers get free education, books and uniforms. They also eat together with children of other communities, and learn Sanskrit, a language they were earlier denied access to. The children in this school are taught all religions so they can celebrate all of India's traditions.
And the story does not end here. Sulabh also has a toilet museum which is now on the tourist maps of New Delhi. They have expanded to eco-sanitation projects that help with pisciculture, among other things. Throughout these projects, Pathakji continued his education to go on for a Phd and a D.Litt, and has coined a new term, "Action Sociology," which he advocates as a way to solve social problems.
Behind all of these efforts is a deep-rooted spirituality. Pathakji's day begins with the entire Sulabh community praying (they sing a universal prayer) and filling their hearts with positive vibrations. When I interviewed him, not once did I sense anger against society for discrimination of the untouchables. At the same time, there was no acceptance of the injustice. Like Krishnammal and Sandhya, and in a completely unique manner, Pathakji has transcended anger and hatred to make a difference, a big difference, through social entrepreneurship. He is indeed a bright light in India who has illuminated our conscience and given us great hope for the future.
You can meet him by going to the Palam Vihar (New Delhi) office of Sulabh International Social Service Organization (although he travels often, he is generally accessible). You can also meet the other heroes of Sulabh and see their toilet museum and a demonstration of bio-gas and electricity from human excreta in the same complex. There are several volunteering and internship opportunities with this organization, if you have the time.
And if you can't visit them, here is a film I made on Sulabh in 2006. I recommend watching it in full-screen mode (press the TV icon) and using headphones.
In case the full screen feature does not work below, you can watch it directly on Blip TV.
Errata: the film says Sulabh has built over 500 toilets, when in fact, the number is ab
Amitabh Mitra
URL
December 28, 2008
03:45 AM
Bindeshwar Pathak has indeed created a revolution by making Sulabh Sauchalay at every town in every province. I have seen them in Gwalior but I really couldnt understand the reasons for them being so underused.
He should bring this revolution to Africa.
Somik Raha
URL
December 28, 2008
12:48 PM
It might be that they need more social marketing in Gwalior. The film below discusses their experiences on this issue.
embed src="http://desicritics.org/mt/mt-comments.php?mode=red&u=http://blip.tv/play/AeLNEY+pVA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="510" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true">embed>
Watch directly at: http://blip.tv/file/1607032
kaffir
December 28, 2008
12:58 PM
Somik,
Where is the compost from toilets used, and how long does it take for it to be ready (I'm assuming one year or so)? I'd like to know more about that. Also, are there instances of this composting toilet being installed in residential or commercial buildings?
kaffir
December 28, 2008
01:11 PM
Regarding using composting toilet in residential building, would you know if there's some interest in it, or whether it has been tried in India? Is the cost of installation a challenge, or is it the law/permits (i.e. residential buildings cannot have a composting toilet)? And what are the costs associated with installing such a toilet?
Morris
December 28, 2008
01:37 PM
Somik Raha
From what you describe I think Bindeshwar Pathakji is a modern day RUSHI. A truly genuine sage.
kaffir
December 28, 2008
02:17 PM
From what you describe I think Bindeshwar Pathakji is a modern day RUSHI. A truly genuine sage.
Morris, I agree. I read about him and his amazing work more than a year ago, and his story is fascinating as well as a template for all those angry activists who are all too eager to prop up "enemies" in a bid to justify and fuel their anger.
Here's a guy who hit upon a brilliant idea that solved more than one set of complex problems with one solution without using righteous anger. Best of all, his means and his end are spiritually aligned, and brought about positive results.
Somik Raha
URL
December 28, 2008
02:49 PM
Kaffir wrote:
Where is the compost from toilets used, and how long does it take for it to be ready (I'm assuming one year or so)? I'd like to know more about that. Also, are there instances of this composting toilet being installed in residential or commercial buildings?
The compost is used in fields as fertilizer. It actually hardens over time, and Sulabh has machines that grind it into a powder. There are some shots of this in the film. In fact, some museums have asked for the hardened compost and they will then decorate it and display it.
Somik Raha
URL
December 28, 2008
02:51 PM
Morris wrote:
From what you describe I think Bindeshwar Pathakji is a modern day RUSHI. A truly genuine sage.
Indeed. In his interview in the film (toward the second half), you will find he is so simple, and humorous about his life experiences - especially when he talks about his grandmother and father-in-law.
Somik Raha
URL
December 28, 2008
02:56 PM
kaffir wrote:
Also, are there instances of this composting toilet being installed in residential or commercial buildings?
If you are referring to the two-pit pour flush toilet, it is especially suited to rural and semi-rural India, where most people use bucket toilets.
For the bio-gas and electricity generating technology shown in the film, the main challenge is that a certain quantity of excreta is required to make this work, which is true in the case of public toilets. I had asked them about residential complexes being built around this. There weren't any at the time of making the film (2006).
Somik Raha
URL
December 28, 2008
03:05 PM
kaffir wrote:
Regarding using composting toilet in residential building, would you know if there's some interest in it, or whether it has been tried in India? Is the cost of installation a challenge, or is it the law/permits (i.e. residential buildings cannot have a composting toilet)? And what are the costs associated with installing such a toilet?
These are good questions. At the time I spoke to them, Pathakji mentioned that they were interested in expanding further. I don't think the law will be a problem, given Sulabh's track record. For residential units, a practical solution might be to pool all the excreta in one processing facility, and use that to generate and supply bio-gas and electricity to the units, to lower conventional energy dependence. I think the whole setup is a little expensive - takes a few years to pay for itself.
The big stumbling block, as far as I understand, is that Sulabh is an NGO, and NGO's have limited access to capital. Although Sulabh has had such a wide impact, Pathakji still felt that he hadn't done enough (imagine!). He mentioned he was exploring starting a for-profit company, but I don't know if he's done it yet. Perhaps if someone was interested and spoke to him about it, we might have a commercial enterprise that can expand and provide these solutions at a much larger scale.
Amitabh Mitra
URL
December 28, 2008
03:51 PM
The Sulabh Sauchalay movement started by Pathakji captured Indian towns at a very fast pace, faster than anyone can imagine. I have always wondered about the procedure by which such buildings can be erected on Government land within the heart of the town. My apologies, but even if I had to build a free clinic on a Govermment land, it took me years after recommendations from the right people to procure a small piece of land outside Gwalior. Implementation of an idea at a breakneck speed within the country known for bureaucratic inefficiencies makes me feel uncomfortable. The Sauchalay is built close to the Railway Station but have we ever noted the statistics of people using them.
commonsense
December 28, 2008
07:38 PM
The Sulabh Sauchalay movment is quite obviously inspired by the children of Macaulay to convert us into Western non-Indians. Our last freedom, that of shitting and peeing on the streets, is now taken away from us. What next? Will we be forced to wipe our enormous posteriors with toilet paper and in the process, destroy our forests? No question about it, an insidious attempt to Westernise us, under the guise of "civilization". I look forward to the likes of Kerty to rescue us from this ultimate humiliation that strikes at the very heart of what defines us as being distinctively different from "the West". If you havenen't experienced the gentle breeze blowing around your expose "netherlands" in the wide open spaces on a crisp summer day....well, you haven't experienced much in live and are in all likelihood a victim of western imperialism and patently colonial attitudes.
Amitabh Mitra
URL
December 29, 2008
09:35 AM
"Pathakji ney badhiya 5 star hotel banaya hai" These are the comments from the common man. "Dekho bahar mucho wala durwan bhi khada hai" But I said to them, 'This is your Sauchalay' They replied, 'No that cant be mine, that can never be mine. That belongs to Pathakji only. We are happy with our railway toilets'
commonsense
December 29, 2008
10:30 AM
good one amitabh!!
a couple of decades ago or so, some international volunteers (not yet called NGO's) took on the commendable task of building toilets in some villages in northern india. a year later they came to check out the fruits of their endeavour. all the toilets, since they were "pucca" were used as goat/cow shelters and as for the business of toilet, it was business as usual, in the great outdoors. (Although this doesn't work in the cities: "dekho gadhaa moot raha hai"!!)
Somik Raha
URL
December 29, 2008
11:34 AM
Amitabh, can you tell me which shauchalay you are talking about? Have you watched the film yet? I have shot at least two toilets - one in front of AIIMS and the other in Indira Gandhi Colony (a slum) - they hardly match your description of a five-star hotel. When I interviewed the users of the toilet, they hardly gave the reaction that you are talking about. Since then, I have personally used Sulabh's Shauchalay in other places - and never felt it was a 5-star hotel.
I guess its the norm to pull someone down if they are trying to do good and being successful. But, I am still trying to look beyond your cynicism and find an argument that makes sense. Before you respond, please take a look at the film (it is now embedded in the post) and tell me what I missed.
commonsense
December 29, 2008
11:41 AM
all silly, assinine, unbecoming so-called jokes from me aside, such measures are long overdue, so well deserved kudos to you highlighting the fact that someone is actually taking steps to resolve a major problems that afflicts all cities and towns. most well-heeled people in most cities can always enter a restaurant to use their facilities, an option not usually open to the "aam aadmi". good stuff somik for diverting de-kertifying (Kerty) the texture of the discussion on DC
Amitabh Mitra
URL
December 29, 2008
02:17 PM
Dear Somik, the idea is fantastic, its implementation great and your movie too is beautiful. Sulabh Sauchalay is nothing new but what worried me during those times was the way a NGO could get it constructed in a record time. Even the idea of NGOs were still new during that period. Yes, it is not rustic. Iam not trying to pull anyone down. I had just looked beyond the 'Aam Admi Toilet Scheme'. I wish I could get a quarter piece of land from the Government next to the Sulabh Sauchalay in Gwalior for a Free Paraplegic Care Centre. That would be just dreaming, my friend.The Sulabh Group of industries is well managed and well connected.
My apologies for de-kertifying the texture of the discussion on DC.
Somik Raha
URL
December 29, 2008
03:34 PM
Amitabh, I am sorry your scheme did not work. It is unfortunate that Sulabh and other good projects need to go to the government for land - it is because the government controls public land. I wish it were otherwise. In any case, have you considered raising money so you can buy land for your paraplegic care center? People do such things all the time - why go to the government at all? If you prepare a plan and explain how you wish to serve paraplegics, those who care will come forward to help you.
commonsense
December 29, 2008
09:41 PM
amitabh:
""My apologies for de-kertifying the texture of the discussion on DC."'
oops! you misunderstoo. de-kertification is urgently needed on DC (ie. as opposed to Kerty's views that spread negative spirit all around)
Somik Raha
URL
December 30, 2008
01:01 PM
Commonsense, thank you. I find there are many, many heroes in modern India, whose stories need telling. We need storytellers who will bring these stories out to the masses.
I wish someone would make a film about EXNORA. Their story is quite amazing. In Chennai, a few decades back, it was an uphill task to get people to throw garbage in the right place. Instead, they'd dump it in front of their neighbor's house. Scavengers would come in and make an even bigger mess. A few people came together to brainstorm, and they came up with a simple idea. They hired the scavengers as "Street Beautifiers," got them each a tricycle cart with a small loan from a bank. The street beautifiers would pick up garbage from house to house and then dump it in the right place, all for a nominal monthly fee. With this system, the bank loan was paid off quickly, and the scavengers now had a job, which they could do with self-respect and dignity.
This was the model of EXNORA, which has been replicated in many cities in the South.
Further Reading:
UNESCO Highlights EXNORA's story
EXNORA website
Article in India Together
Hopefully, someone reading this will be inspired to get a videocamera and capture their story.
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