In the view of ensuring public health and safety, the Sulabh Museum of Toilets will remain close till further notice.

World Toilet Research Foundation (WTRF)

Research & Delivery

About Us

Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, Ph.D., D.Litt. Sociologist & Social Reformer and  Founder, Sulabh Sanitation Movement

Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak , an eminent Action Sociologist in field of sanitation, a social reformer and founder of Sulabh International Social Service Organization (SISSO) constituted World Toilet Research Foundation (WTRF) in 2013 under the aegis of Sulabh International Museum of Toilets. The museum formally inaugurated in 1994 is the only museum in the world chronolizing the history of toilet from ancient to modern. It is also the principal organisation which records the sanitation practices since early time in various regions of the world.   WTRF is a NGO registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 as an agency working in research and delivery of health and hygiene to marginalised sections of the society.  WTRF as a wing of Sulabh International Museum of Toilets promotes fundamental research and delivery in health, hygiene, sanitation and education to the marginalised villages and slums. The organisation also aims to  study and research  socio-economic problems, sociocultural acceptance and various socio-economic developmental aspects to promote sustainable sanitation in these areas.

World Toilet Research Foundation

How it all Started

Mission 

Swach

The mission of the organisation is to adopt a holistic approach in providing health, hygiene, water and sanitation services through construction of toilets, education, advocacy and employment generation. The projects aim to foster health and hygiene and train individuals in alternative vocations like stenography , computers, beauty care, plumbing, waste water management etc. With 45 years of experience in research in sanitation, wastewater management technologies and dealing with  adoption issues in rural areas, Sulabh through its agency WTRF wants to expand its outreach to the most overlooked section and regions in the country. This task would be carried out through fundamental research in delivery and design of sanitation technologies keeping in view of the cultural background and topography of the regions and training villagers in using human excreta in a sustainable manner for agriculture and aquaculture.

How we will do it ?

As a new organization, WTRF will use Sulabh’s methodology and technology and adopt select individual villages to construct subsidized toilets, provide health and hygiene advocacy,  and train individuals in waste water management and vocational activities. Some of the major achievements of Sulabh are –

Major Achievements

  • 1.3 million household latrines converted  to Sulabh design
  • 8000 community toilet and bath complexes on a pay per use system
  • 640 towns made scavenging free
  • Sulabh Technology considered the most appropriate, affordable and socially accepted design by UN
  • 196 +  Biogas plants created in the country
  • Successfully running Vocational Training centre in Alwar, Tonk, Ghaziabad and New Delhi

Projects

The Project “SWACH”

Sulabh conducts fundamental research in design and delivery of sanitation, water and hygiene. WTRF under the purview of its umbrella organisation Sulabh International Museum OF Toilets plans to adopt 2-3 villages to implement best practices in sanitation learnt from 45 years of service in the field of sanitation in India. The pilot project will be called “SWACH” meaning clean.

The major components of the project in adopted villages will include:

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For Rural Areas

  • Introduction of Sulabh Technology of TWO PIT TOILETS based on construction material and type most suited to the topography and culture of the local community.
  • Motivation to adopt this toilet technology through advocacy of its health benefits with provision of partial subsidy for the construction cost.
  • Waste Water Management through Bio gas plants based on human excreta
  • Training programs for maintenance of the individual latrines as well as use and sale of manure prepared from anaerobic digestion of human excreta in the pits.
  • Promotion of Hygiene Education through collaboration with village elders/council keeping in view the cultural and normative practice
  • Advocacy and training in health and hygiene through a CLEAN BODY CAMPAIGN focusing on overall body hygiene  in a culturally sensitive fashion
  • Vocational training programs in making local food like papadum, masala, beauty care etc (choosing most appropriate facilities for the area) for rehabilitation of manual scavengers by implementing successful internal models like Nai Disha centres created by Sulabh.
  • Promotion of Indigenous medicine and first aid training in rural areas
  • Ground Water recharging through solid and liquid waste management techniques
  • Promotion of health benefits to the dwellers through training in Yoga
  • Establishing local stores for health services and promotion of sustainable livelihood through training in waste management , aquaculture (duckweed) and vocational training
  • Training in Rain Water Harvesting to meet seasonal water shortages

Urban Slums

As defined by the census of India slums are ”residential areas where dwellings are unfit for human habitation” because they are dilapidated, cramped, poorly ventilated, unclean, or “any combination of these factors which are detrimental to the safety and health”. Some of these slums are registered while other are un registered societies which lie at the brink of civilization lacking access and rights to any of the basic facilities.

  • Introduction of Sulabh Community Toilets with flexible designs for urban dwellers including two pit pour flush and low flush cistern toilets connecting to urban sewer systems to provide sanitation in dwellings with lack of adequate space.
  • Motivation to adopt this toilet technology through advocacy of its health benefits with provision of partial subsidy for the construction cost.
  • Promotion of Health and Hygiene in urban setting though advocacy and education as part of Clean Body Campaign
  • Advocacy to women and schoolchildren through hand wash campaigns
  • Advocacy in overall health and hygiene of the home to women.
  • Waste Water management through treatment of human excreta .
  • Establishing local stores for health services and promotion of sustainable livelihood through training in waste management, aquaculture (duckweed) and vocational training
  • Vocational training programs in stenography, electric repairs, computers etc. (choosing most appropriate facilities for the area) for employment generation.
  • Promotion of Indigenous medicine and first aid training in rural areas
  • Ground Water recharging through solid and liquid waste management techniques

Clean Body Campaign:

  • Clean Body Campaign is an advocacy program in sanitation, hygiene and health. It encompasses elements of WASH programs like provision of water and sanitation facilities; enabling environments; and changing social behaviour. The program over and above WASH will also include training and advocacy in health  and sanitation. Clean Body Campaign  program will encompass motivation for entrepreneurship, and create employment generation opportunities through proven models in human excreta based agriculture/aquaculture, making and selling of health/ hygiene products. The program comprises:
  • Advocacy in health and hygiene of entire body including cleaning of private parts, hands and surroundings in a culturally sensitive manner.
  • Setting up facilities to create low cost locally produced affordable feminine hygiene products to eliminate the use of unhygienic cloth.  (Sulabh has a pilot model for making affordable (Rs.2/-) feminine hygiene products for provision in schools at its New Delhi Centre)
  • Advocacy in schools and to women for maintaining hygiene in the house
  • Training in Yoga and use of indigenous medicine to cure day to day diseases.

Advantages of our Program

In the past few years a lot of the programs like WASH have focused on construction of toilets and hygiene promotion in rural and inaccessible   areas. The most important focus of WASH Programs are –

  • Governance reform, leadership and policy advocacy
  • Creation of Sanitation facilities and enabling environments
  • Coordination with governments and key development partners active in water and sanitation at country level

Inspite of a lot of progress in building in providing access to toilets the usage  of these facilities remains low. The programs lack focus on changing cultural habits and providing education for usage and cleaning of toilets leading to eventual abandonment. People also find it a burden to maintain/repair  these facilities due to lack of resources.

With 45 years of experience in sanitation, Sulabh International Social Service Organisation has developed a model to create self sustaining and environment friendly toilets which can be easily constructed and maintained. The Sulabh two pit technology will be implemented in the adopted villages/slums though our projects.

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To get any information call us: +91.011.25031518 & 19 & E-Mail: [email protected]

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Week Days: (Monday to Saturday) 8am to 8pm
Sunday & National Holidays: 10am to 5pm
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In the view of ensuring public health and safety, the Sulabh Museum of Toilets will remain close until 31st March 2020.