Tarun Bharat, Sangli October 2, 2002

Inauguration of a unique toilet project today:
The partnership between the local govt., media and a civil society has resulted in unique projects for the first time in India in two slums - Sangliwadi and Tasgaon Ves which are to be inaugurated by the MLA Madan Patil according to deputy commissioners Mr. Ghate and Mr. Kamble and Mrs. Pratima Joshi of Shelter Associates.

The Candian Institute on Governance has provided a seed funding of 50000 canadian dollars. The NGO's of Pune - Shelter Associates and Baandhani participated in the actual awareness building, design and implementation of the projects in both the slums. Earlier SA/Baandhani had conducted a survey of all the settlements. Of the 99 settlements that were surveyed, 78 had no toilet facilities. The women of both the settlements of Sangliwadi and Tasgaon Ves prioritized sanitary blocks which led to this pilot project.

At present similar projects are being implemented in the cities of Kathmandu, Nepal and Dehiwala Mount Lavinia in Sri Lanka.