Services urbains et innovation en Inde : l'action de Sulabh International

Sulabh International, an organization begun during the 100 year anniversary of Ghandi's birth and based on his principles of hygiene, has been instrumental in the liberation of scavengers, people who perform manual cleaning of latrines. Sulabh International has promoted hygiene awareness, particularly in school children, developed training programmes for masons, engineers and sanitary inspectors, and promoted research in such areas as biogas utilization and low-cost housing construction using locally available materials. They have provided a collective service in construction of the Sulabh complexes which consist of community toilets respecting the separation of the sexes, showers, and laundry facilities. A few of the problems encountered by the complexes include obstruction of the pipes, often caused by users letting objects fall in or by insufficient flushing water, insufficient depth to the wells, and defective or inaccessible pipe joints. Sulabh International assumes the responsibility for operation and maintenance for the systems until the first emptying of the latrines, usually 5 years. At that time, an evaluation is performed, any defects are repaired without cost, and the system is turned over to the users.