Sulabh International
Encyclopedia
Sulabh International is an India
n based social service organization which works to promote human rights, environmental sanitation, non-conventional sources of energy, waste management
and social reforms through education. The organization counts 50,000 volunteers. Sulabh International is the largest non-profit in India.
produced from excreta-based plants, low maintenance waste water treatment plants of medium capacity for institutions and industries. Other work includes setting up English-medium public school in New Delhi
and also a network of centres all over the country to train boys and girls from poor families, specially scavenger
s, so that they can compete in open job market.
(Turkey), in June, 1996. The Economic and Social Council
of the United Nations
granted Special Consultative Status to Sulabh in recognition of its work.
Sulabh claims their plan on human waste disposal and social reforms has provided jobs directly to 35,000 people, and has created 10,000,000 (1 crore) mandays, making 240 towns scavenging free.
Sulabh has established coordination with various national and international agencies, including British Council
, USAID, BORDA, a German organisation, Commission of European Union
, Belgium
, GERES, France
, CEEIC, HRIEE, China
and Haskoning and Euroconsult, a Dutch firm.
Sulabh found mention in page 124 of the Human Development Index
report for 2006. Sulabh was commended for bringing sanitation to the poor in India.
In October 2007, Sulabh announced the design of a cheap toilet system that recycles human waste into biogas
and fertilizer
.
Pathak has been conferred with the 2009 Stockholm Water Prize
for his contributions towards his work.
, the company runs a museum dedicated to the history of sanitation and toilets.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n based social service organization which works to promote human rights, environmental sanitation, non-conventional sources of energy, waste management
Waste management
Waste management is the collection, transport, processing or disposal,managing and monitoring of waste materials. The term usually relates to materials produced by human activity, and the process is generally undertaken to reduce their effect on health, the environment or aesthetics...
and social reforms through education. The organization counts 50,000 volunteers. Sulabh International is the largest non-profit in India.
History
Sulabh was founded by Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak in 1970. Innovations include a scavenging-free two-pit pourflush toilet (Sulabh Shauchalaya); safe and hygienic on-site human waste disposal technology; a new concept of maintenance and construction of pay-&-use public toilets, popularly known as Sulabh Complexes with bath, laundry and urinal facilities being used by about ten million people every day and generates bio-gas and biofertilizerBiofertilizer
A bio-fertilizer is a substance which contains living microorganisms which, when applied to seed, plant surfaces, or soil, colonizes the rhizosphere or the interior of the plant and promotes growth by increasing the supply or availability of primary nutrients to the host plant.Bio-fertilizers add...
produced from excreta-based plants, low maintenance waste water treatment plants of medium capacity for institutions and industries. Other work includes setting up English-medium public school in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
and also a network of centres all over the country to train boys and girls from poor families, specially scavenger
Scavenger
Scavenging is both a carnivorous and herbivorous feeding behavior in which individual scavengers search out dead animal and dead plant biomass on which to feed. The eating of carrion from the same species is referred to as cannibalism. Scavengers play an important role in the ecosystem by...
s, so that they can compete in open job market.
The Institution
The United Nations Centre for Human Settlements has praised Sulabh's sanitation system as a global 'Urban Best Practice' at the Habitat-II conference held at IstanbulIstanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
(Turkey), in June, 1996. The Economic and Social Council
United Nations Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations constitutes one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and it is responsible for the coordination of the economic, social and related work of 14 UN specialized agencies, its functional commissions and five regional commissions...
of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
granted Special Consultative Status to Sulabh in recognition of its work.
Sulabh claims their plan on human waste disposal and social reforms has provided jobs directly to 35,000 people, and has created 10,000,000 (1 crore) mandays, making 240 towns scavenging free.
Sulabh has established coordination with various national and international agencies, including British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
, USAID, BORDA, a German organisation, Commission of European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, GERES, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, CEEIC, HRIEE, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Haskoning and Euroconsult, a Dutch firm.
Sulabh found mention in page 124 of the Human Development Index
Human Development Index
The Human Development Index is a composite statistic used to rank countries by level of "human development" and separate "very high human development", "high human development", "medium human development", and "low human development" countries...
report for 2006. Sulabh was commended for bringing sanitation to the poor in India.
In October 2007, Sulabh announced the design of a cheap toilet system that recycles human waste into biogas
Biogas
Biogas typically refers to a gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Organic waste such as dead plant and animal material, animal dung, and kitchen waste can be converted into a gaseous fuel called biogas...
and fertilizer
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. A recent assessment found that about 40 to 60% of crop yields are attributable to commercial fertilizer use...
.
Pathak has been conferred with the 2009 Stockholm Water Prize
Stockholm Water Prize
Presented annually since 1991, the Stockholm Water Prize is a prestigious award that recognises outstanding achievements in water related activities...
for his contributions towards his work.
Sulabh International Museum of Toilets
In Sulabh International's premises in DelhiDelhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, the company runs a museum dedicated to the history of sanitation and toilets.
External links
- Sulabh International
- Energy International - NGO which constructs sulabh shauchalaya in rural and urban areas internationally
- Film on Sulabh: Scavenging Freedom, includes interview with founder, Total Running Time: 43 mins
- Nai Disha: Film on Scavengers of Alwar, Total Running Time: 7 mins
- The Sanitary Visionary and Me (a profile of Sulabh and Bindeshwar Pathak)