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CASE STUDIES

Title
COMMUNAL TOILET CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME IN PUNE (MAHARASHTRA)

Sector
Sanitation

Summary
The communal toilet construction program in the city of Pune is undertaken through a partnership between municipal corporation and NGOs. The project emphasizes that the widening gap between demand and supply of basic services has forced urban local bodies to desperately work out alternate institutional arrangements rather than depend on the state government or on their own resources.

The project represents a new approach where a combination of municipal funds and powers along with the commitment of NGOs is enabling the implementation of a large-scale and long-term project for tackling the sanitation problems in the city. The Pune Municipal Corporation, in partnership with eight NGOs, is constructing 237 toilet blocks with over 3000 units. The project started in November 1999, with expected completion of construction by mid-2000, with NGOs committed to maintaining the blocks for 30 years.

The project has been used by NGOs as a tool for community building and for promoting the role of community groups in the Municipal Corporation.

Location
Pune the second largest city of Maharashtra and is known for its educational institutions and research centers.

Situation
Slum dwellers in Pune have for long suffered inadequate access to toilet facilities, where toilet to person ratio is as low as 1:25,000. Even where toilets are available they are old, dilapidated and unusable. People have to use over-used toilets or defecate on nearby empty plots, river and canal banks and railway lines. No system of community involvement in the maintenance of toilet block existed.

Lead
Pune Municipal Corporation took the lead to improve the sanitation sit

Strategy
*In order to complete the project in time, weekly meetings were held between NGO representatives and slum department officials.
*Employment of skilled people from within the settlements to work on the project, resulting in local interest and a sense of connection to new toilets.
*Women play a key role in organizing community members to carry materials from the road to construction site, keeping track of deliveries and coordinate on a daily basis with NGOs. In most settlements, NGOs were able to generate interest in the design stage and inputs from local women and men have changed the layout of toilet blocks.
*Each of the new blocks is built differently according to the needs and ideas of the local people and according to the available site and space. The toilets are pour-flush latrines and water tanks of approx. 800 litres capacity are located outside both the women's and men's toilets. The toilets are based on septic tank system. Each block has a small toilet for children under the age of five.
* A list of users is drawn up and each household is issued a card on which their payments are recorded. The caretaker collects Rs. 20 per household per month.

Process
The project focused on the demolition and reconstruction of old dilapidated toilet blocks, which were identified by the Corporation. In the process there was an increase in the number of units in many toilet blocks and also new sites were identified for completely new blocks. The toilet blocks vary in size from 10 to 60 units and each block has a caretaker's room incorporated into the design. Wherever possible, the toilets are connected to the municipal sewer system, which are otherwise based on septic tanks. Community toilets are located within informal settlements and households using the toilets pay a monthly sum of Rs. 20, which generates adequate sum to cover the caretaker's salary and maintenance cost of toilets.

The Corporation had also agreed to provide electricity and water supply to each site free of cost for the construction period and future use besides providing funds.

The role of each NGO is to demolish the existing toilet block, which includes clearing the sludge from the old aqua-privy tank, to construct the new block within the cost and time limits, and to take on responsibility for 30 years maintenance of each block.

Financing
In this project, the Corporation is providing financial resources while the NGOs are contributing through construction and maintenance of toilet blocks.

Lessons
The overall project has harnessed the resources of two actors allowing both sides to gain experience in working together constructively.

Contact
Pratima Joshi, Srinanda Sen

Designation
Directors

Organisation
Shelter Associates
Address: A-17 Sarasnagar Siddhivinayak Society
Shukrawar Peth
City: Pune
State: Maharashtra
Pin: 411002
Phone: 020-4440363
Fax:
Email: shelter@jp.eth.net
Web: www.shelter-assocites.org