SBA is an excellent initiative to build sanitation infrastructure
ECONOMY & POLICY

SBA is an excellent initiative to build sanitation infrastructure

Anuj Jain, CEO, Jindal Architecture, speaks on the implementation of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) and the company´s role in the construction of modular toilets.

How much would you be spending in the next five years for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan?
We have invested over 50crore for developing dedicated infrastructure required for the machinery set up for servicing the toilets, and we are all geared up to double the investment.

What is the company´s target for the next two to three years in the modular toilet segment?
In the last four months, we have supplied over 550 toilets and are targeting over 2,000 toilets this year.

Your company has been promoting stainless steel modular toilets? What is the uniqueness of these toilets?
These toilets boast of features such as:

  • The use of green material.
  • A lifespan of over 25 years.
  • Pest free and zero bacteria.
  • Can be easily cleaned.

The company also had been talking about 100 per cent recyclable bio-toilets. How much does each toilet cost?
Our toilets are customised to need. The price of a single unit of toilet starts from Rs 1.5 lakh.

Will these toilets be installed in rural or urban areas? Why?
Most of the corporates and PSUs who have purchased toilets under CSR are installing them in remote areas of Odisha, Bihar, and Telangana. The main reason probably being their durability, long life, and low maintenance.

What is your focus for the mission- building toilets or others like providing sanitary equipment? Elaborate.
Our focus in SBA mission is to provide a timely and complete solution in the prefabricated modular toilet segment. We have invested in the manufacturing so as to help corporates get toilets installed in the shortest possible time.

Give a breakup of toilets constructed in households and schools and the investments made?
We have supplied over 550 toilets to various schools in India.

Do you think this clean drive will achieve the 2019 target and make a significant change in the country? Elaborate.
In our opinion, SBA is an excellent initiative to build the sanitation infrastructure for the country. But while the government and the corporate focus on achieving numbers, they should not lose focus on the quality.

Few experts say Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan is a mere re-branding exercise. Your comments.
If you look at the earlier campaign, sanitation was one of the areas for corporate to focus on while using CSR funds. But in SBA, the government seems focused and is pushing corporate to invest their CSR funds in building toilets.

Do you think by constructing toilets and distributing sanitary equipment, the mission will be successful? Reasons.
I think yes. People may not use immediately but over the years, with consistent efforts, cleanliness can be ensured. Additionally, making sanitation a part of the school curriculum will certainly bring a change. Just as people staying in cities will never like to go in open, habits in villages will slowly change and toilets will become a necessity. In my opinion, the challenge is to keep community, public and school toilets clean and fresh enough to be used.

How unique or different is Swachh Bharat Mission from the earlier Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan?
The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is more focussed towards providing and building toilets, whereas Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan focussed on covering various other aspects for a cleaner India.

(Communication by the management of the company)

Anuj Jain, CEO, Jindal Architecture, speaks on the implementation of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) and the company´s role in the construction of modular toilets. How much would you be spending in the next five years for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan? We have invested over 50crore for developing dedicated infrastructure required for the machinery set up for servicing the toilets, and we are all geared up to double the investment. What is the company´s target for the next two to three years in the modular toilet segment? In the last four months, we have supplied over 550 toilets and are targeting over 2,000 toilets this year. Your company has been promoting stainless steel modular toilets? What is the uniqueness of these toilets? These toilets boast of features such as: The use of green material. A lifespan of over 25 years. Pest free and zero bacteria. Can be easily cleaned. The company also had been talking about 100 per cent recyclable bio-toilets. How much does each toilet cost? Our toilets are customised to need. The price of a single unit of toilet starts from Rs 1.5 lakh. Will these toilets be installed in rural or urban areas? Why? Most of the corporates and PSUs who have purchased toilets under CSR are installing them in remote areas of Odisha, Bihar, and Telangana. The main reason probably being their durability, long life, and low maintenance. What is your focus for the mission- building toilets or others like providing sanitary equipment? Elaborate. Our focus in SBA mission is to provide a timely and complete solution in the prefabricated modular toilet segment. We have invested in the manufacturing so as to help corporates get toilets installed in the shortest possible time. Give a breakup of toilets constructed in households and schools and the investments made? We have supplied over 550 toilets to various schools in India. Do you think this clean drive will achieve the 2019 target and make a significant change in the country? Elaborate. In our opinion, SBA is an excellent initiative to build the sanitation infrastructure for the country. But while the government and the corporate focus on achieving numbers, they should not lose focus on the quality. Few experts say Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan is a mere re-branding exercise. Your comments. If you look at the earlier campaign, sanitation was one of the areas for corporate to focus on while using CSR funds. But in SBA, the government seems focused and is pushing corporate to invest their CSR funds in building toilets. Do you think by constructing toilets and distributing sanitary equipment, the mission will be successful? Reasons. I think yes. People may not use immediately but over the years, with consistent efforts, cleanliness can be ensured. Additionally, making sanitation a part of the school curriculum will certainly bring a change. Just as people staying in cities will never like to go in open, habits in villages will slowly change and toilets will become a necessity. In my opinion, the challenge is to keep community, public and school toilets clean and fresh enough to be used. How unique or different is Swachh Bharat Mission from the earlier Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan? The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is more focussed towards providing and building toilets, whereas Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan focussed on covering various other aspects for a cleaner India. (Communication by the management of the company)

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