Mangaluru: APD Foundation is poised to introduce ‘Prati Manege Sauchalaya’, a novel initiative to provide toilet to the underprivileged sections of society. It will be formally launched with the delivery of its completed pilot project to the beneficiary family at Kunjathbail in the city. Sri Uday Nayak, retired police officer and a former ACP of Mangaluru City Police will launch the project in the presence of civic officials and dignitaries on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, at 11:00 AM at the residence of the beneficiary Smt Chandravathy, wife of Late Poovappa, Deppuniguthu Masjid Road, Devinagar, 1-38B, Kunjathbail.
‘Prati Manege Sauchalaya’ is inspired by the Prime Minister’s dream project ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ launched by the Government of India. Eliminating open defecation by October 2, 2019, Gandhi’s 150th birthday is one of the key aims of the ‘Swacch Bharat Abhiyan’. United Nations has also given a call to end open defecation globally by 2025.
Background
Dakshina Kannada was declared open defecation free in 2017. However, a social audit report conducted around the same time stated that 4590 households in Dakshina Kannada still had no toilets. The social auditing was carried out in all 230 Grama Panchayats and 366 villages in the district. As per the report, Mangaluru taluk has the most toilet-less households (1421) followed by Puttur (875), Belthangady (836), Sullia (852) and Bantwal (579). The report further stated that 350 of the constructed toilet remains unused and 795 are shared among households. Thus, the problem lies not only in providing sanitation facilities to those without, but also ensuring that newly constructed toilets are utilized appropriately.
Open defecation and poor sanitation cause severe malnutrition in children, and susceptibility to diseases such as diarrhea, intestinal worms, typhoid, cholera, schistosomiasis and trachoma, causing severe morbidity and mortality. Open defecation also poses a severe threat to the safety of women. Furthermore, most of India’s rivers contain water contaminated by faeces.
Role of APDF
APD Foundation will work with local government identify low income household which do not have toilets and construct free toilets for them. Initially we plan to reach out to families in and around Mangaluru. Later on we will reach other regions in Dakshina Kannada and coastal region.
The toilets constructed will be as per government / WHO standards. Construction of one such toilet in Dakshina Kannada costs approximately Rs 25,000. This would ensure an entire family access to a toilet for a lifetime.
APD Foundation will be funding this project through the generosity of individual and corporate donors. APDF has already identified sufficient number of donors to initiate a few projects. More donors will be approached in due course.
APDF has already constructed the first toilet which will benefit a single woman living in Kunjathbail, Mangalore who has lived without a toilet for decades. Along with toilet construction, this project will also focus on educating the beneficiary and the general target group regarding the importance of using toilet and safe sanitation.
