I believe that it was Plato who said, “Necessity is the
mother of invention,” So is the case with the social innovation. It is the need
that necessitates the conception of novel ideas. One such need is Sanitation.
Low
cost toilets, developed by a not for profit organization, Sulabh International,
based in India is the solution that addresses this need. The target group of
this particular social innovation is low income group living specifically
either in a rural area or in a slum area, in India. This organization has
developed a wide range of toilet models using different available local
resources; from bamboos to mud to cement concrete.http://www.sulabhinternational.org/st/advantages_sulabh_toilets.php
These toilets are not
only affordable but also have multiple benefits; suited to different
hydrogeological and geological conditions, use optimum amount of water (1.5L to
2 L), free from health hazards with very low maintenance cost etc.
However, expecting the rural
community (or may be any community), who have been comfortable in open
defecation, to develop the habit of using these toilets, can be extremely
challenging. In one of my projects, in North India, with government’s support,
the household of one particular village did construct such toilets. However,
they would never use it. Those toilets are being used more like a status symbol
for the people than being actually used for health reasons. The households
having these toilets would showcase the same to their guests. Otherwise, they
were seldom used.
Why such a cost effective,
affordable, environment friendly much needed innovation was not actually
appreciated and used by local community?
The bottom line is
that we need to prepare the ground before launching, establishing, sustaining
and scaling up an idea. In this specific case, for these innovative models of
toilets to be successful, there was a need of IEC (Information, Education and
Communication) strategy to get the community enlightened of the link between
the hygienic environment and their general well being. Most important of all
getting the community used to the habit of living in hygienic environment.
Can we direct our innovation to deal with this challenge of bringing about the behavioural change?
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