New Delhi, November 20, 2023: Svayam, an accessibility organisation and the social impact arm of Jindal SAW, has unveiled key findings from the Accessible Family Toilet Project, implemented with the Foundation for Accessible Aquanir and Sanitation (FAAS- India wing of Water.org). An initial need assessment survey revealed that over 76% of individuals with reduced mobility struggle to access sanitation facilities- a finding which led Svayam to initiate this project in 2019 across 14 states and 138 districts of India. Over the 4 years, through 24,500 Self Help Groups (SHGs), Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), this project has impacted about 1.5 crore individuals and trained over 1554 local plumbers and masons on accessible toilets.
While toilets are recognised as a basic necessity, there are still a staggering number of people with reduced mobility, including senior citizens, people with disabilities, pregnant women, kids, etc., who are deprived of this facility. Recognising this, Svayam conceived the concept of 'accessible toilets' and drove awareness about the significance of accessible toilets in Indian households. With 69% of People with Disabilities (PwD) and 71% of India's senior citizens residing in rural parts of India, it led the project, intending to improve sanitation facilities for the safety, convenience and dignity of these people.
Shedding light on this transformative endeavour, Sminu Jindal, Founder, Chairperson of Svayam and Managing Director of Jindal SAW Ltd., shares, "At Svayam, we firmly believe that accessibility is an inherent human need and an undeniable right for every individual. Our extensive four-year project has shattered myths that accessibility isn't solely essential for individuals with disabilities; it is necessary for all. Through this project, we've witnessed the willingness of rural communities to invest their savings and even take loans to fulfil this fundamental need—accessible toilets at home. What's truly remarkable is the staggering 99.0% repayment rate, a testament to the unwavering commitment of borrowers towards enhancing their quality of life."
Over 1,008 families availed loans amounting to nearly Rs. 3 crore to facilitate the construction of accessible toilets in their homes. The project initially commenced in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Odisha. With the assistance of 14 Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs), the project expanded to an additional nine states including, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, and West Bengal.
Further, Svayam and NHFDC Foundation entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to expand it to 17 Swalamban Kendras across seven northern states of India. Kicking off this collaboration, the inaugural activity was conducted in Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh, focusing on training plumbers and masons to construct accessible toilets. Concurrently, a village-wide survey is underway by the NHFDC Foundation. As much as 70% of the families taking the survey have expressed keen interest in obtaining loans to upgrade their toilets.
Naveen Shah, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, NDFDC, said, “Svayam and NDFDC Foundation remain committed to promoting accessibility and inclusivity for all individuals, including those with reduced mobility. We have planned to develop a model village in the Kannauj District of Uttar Pradesh, implementing accessible toilets in the households that need them. The response to the survey from the village shows a willingness to adapt to a better lifestyle."
Impact so far:
- 3,620 families expressed keen interest in adopting accessible toilet facilities at home.
- 64% have opted to build accessible toilets for their elderly family members
- 26% have utilised loans to build toilets for family members with disabilities, including those with obesity and accident victims
- 8% have adopted accessible toilets with future readiness in mind, creating homes that stand prepared for the years ahead to ensure the safety, dignity, and independence of family members as they age
- An additional 2% have constructed toilets for pregnant family members at home
- More than 2500 MFI staff were involved in this process to create awareness of credit financing for people with reduced mobility
- These loans have a striking 99.0% repayment rate
- Many have used their savings to modify the toilets to make them accessible
