Covestro-led consortium to build 10 lakh toilets in India by 2022

First pilot launched in Raigad district of Maharastra in association with  Podar Advisory & Consulting Enterprise, Habitat for Humanity India, and Maharashtra Government

Covestro along with the support of Maharashtra government, with assistance from Podar Advisory & Consulting Enterprise (PACE) and Habitat for Humanity India, has announced that it aims to construct 10 lakh toilets in India by 2022 under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

A recent report by the United Nations highlighted that nearly 60 per cent of India’s population practice open defecation which puts them at risk of diseases like cholera, diarrhoea, typhoid etc. Over 600 million citizens of the country are prone to serious health hazards due to lack of proper sanitation facilities in the country. Sadly, the country loses at least 1000 children a day to diarrheal deaths and the reason for these is open defecation and lack of proper sanitation facilities.

With the help of technology and renowned partners, Covestro intends to provide cost-effective and sustainable sanitation solutions, states a company release. The first pilot for this project was initiated in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, where the consortium partners built public and private toilets as well as created awareness of the efficacy of healthy sanitation practices. The toilets which use prefabricated PIR (Polyisocyanurate) materials from Covestro are designed to be fire-resistant, heat resistant, weatherproof and smell-proof.

Ajay Durrani, Managing Director, Indian Sub-Continent, Covestro India, said, “Proper sanitation is one of the key factors affecting the liveability index of a country, and therefore, a key issue to be resolved. Sustainability dovetails with all of our initiatives. Approximately, 23 per cent of girls drop out of school on reaching puberty due to a lack of facilities for them to manage their menstruation. In both urban and rural contexts, over 50 per cent of adolescent girls lack access to adequate sanitation facilities. Hence, poor sanitation is an issue that affects not just the health, but also the socio-economic fabric of the country. Through such initiatives an partnership, Covestro is not only providing sustainable solutions for infrastructure, but also aiding in resolving socio-economic problems.”

EH News Bureau