Hon'ble Mr. Jorge Ayers Roza de Oliveira, Ambassador of Portugal to India and his wife Mrs. Maria

52 Pages·2012·6.46 MB·English

ISSN: 2230–7567
MAY 2012, `20/-
Hon’ble Mr. Jorge Ayers Roza de Oliveira,
Ambassador of Portugal to India and his wife
Mrs. Maria with the liberated scavenging women
of Alwar and Tonk, Rajasthan, during their visit to
the Sulabh Campus: March 17, 2012
BABU JAGJIVAN RAM
(April 5, 1908-July 6, 1986)
Editor-in-Chief
Bindeshwar Pathak
Managing Editor
Volume : 24, Issue : 05, May 2012
Kumar Dilip
Editor
Contents
S.P.N. Sinha
Joint Editor
Janak Singh
Editorial Advisory Board
S.P. Singh
Sidheshwar Dhari Sinha
Arjun Prasad Singh
R.S. Srivastava
Ashok Kumar Jyoti
Mani Bhushan Mishra
C.P. Nambiar
Gaurav Chandra
Pramod Makkad
Art Director
Debabrata Chatterjee
Design & Layout
Anil Khanna
Tarun Sharma
Shashi Dhar
Photographer FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK STORY
Indrajeet Kumar Jha 02 New initiatives in abolition of 30 Nobody’s Story
manual scavenging –
Printed & Published by
a welcome step FROM THE PRESS
Ram Chandra Jha
On behalf of Sulabh International 33 Star Magazine :
Social Service Organisation COVER STORY How the invention of a simple
Published at 04 Ambassador of Portugal Visits pit latrine changed the lives of
RZ-83, Mahavir Enclave Sulabh millions in India
Palam-Dabri Road
New Delhi-110045 36 The Times of India :
Ph. : [phone], 25031519 EVENTS Swank toilets at Central
Fax: [phone]
Email : [email protected] / 08 India Water Week-2012 Water, Railway stations soon
[email protected] Energy and Food Security 37 Eye Magazine (Indian
Website : sulabhinternational.org/
11 Sunburst of Happiness on the Express): CLEAN BILL
sulabhtoiletmuseum.org
Sulabh Campus
Printed at
14 Babu Jagjivan Ram Birthday DISTINGUISHED VISITORS
Xtreme Office Aids (Pvt.) Ltd.
WZ-219A, Street No. 7, Lajwanti Garden, Anniversary 39 Distinguished Visitors
New Delhi-110046
16 Mushaira Jashn-e-Bahar 2012
Phone : [phone]
Editor's Name : S.P.N. Sinha 19 Sulabh Gold Medal for STATE NEWS
Nalanda Girl Topper 44 Andhra pradesh
Entire contents (C) Sulabh International Social
Service Organisation. All rights reserved. 21 Guru Dutt Remembered 44 Bihar
Reproduction or translation in any language in
whole or in part without permission is prohibited. 45 Gujarat
Requests for permission should be sent to Editor, RELIGION 46 Jharkhand
Sulabh India. Opinions expressed in the contents
are the contributors’ and not necessarily endorsed 23 Immortal Words Sermon on 47 Madhya Pradesh
by the publisher who assumes no responsibility
for return of unsolicited material, nor is he the Mount : Jesus Christ 48 Rajasthan
responsible for material lost or damaged in transit.
All enquiries/correspondence regarding editorial,
advertisement, subscription or circulation should FOCUS
be addressed to the Editor, Sulabh India, and sent
on the address given here in above. 25 Dialectics of Social Change;
Opposites Lead to Synthesis
SULABH INDIA 1 May 2012
From the Editor's Desk
New initiatives in abolition
of manual scavenging –
a welcome step
It is heartening to know that support. In this connection, it may suggest any alternate to manual
the Government of India is be useful to refer to the Sulabh scavenging. The reports contained
contemplating to introduce a experience which has been gained certain recommendations which
new Bill amending the existing in respect of liberation, training were palliative in nature. It was Dr.
law in the Monsoon session and rehabilitation of scavengers Pathak, who was associated with
of Parliament to end manual for the last four decades. Sulabh Bihar Gandhi Centenary Celebration
scavenging. The new Bill enhances experience relates to three steps, Committee in 1968, thought of
the scope by covering septic tank, one is liberation, the other is an alternative to scavenging. He
drain and sewer line under its training and rehabilitation and the invented, innovated and developed
purview. It also proposes to impose third is bringing the rehabilitated two-pit-pour-flush toilet technology
stiff penalties and hold violators scavengers in the mainstream of the which he used for construction/
responsible for perpetuating this society. conversion of dry latrines into
inhuman practice. In fact the Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, sanitary toilets. This technology was
Ministry of Social Justice and Architect of Sulabh Sanitation widely acknowledged at national
Empowerment has also proposed and Social Reform Movement has and international levels. This
increasing the punishment under played a pioneering role in fulfilling technology has enabled to liberate
the existing law for those using the dream of Mahatma Gandhi who 1,20,000 manual scavengers. The
manual scavengers in any form. The was deeply moved by the plight of liberation itself was not enough
offences may also be cognizable scavengers who in his lifetime could as it was felt that if they were not
and non-bailable. We welcome the not do much in this regard because suitably occupied in alternative and
steps proposed to be taken by the of his pre-occupation with freedom dignified occupations, there was
Government. movement. After independence a reasonable apprehension that they
While these are the concrete number of committees/ commission would revert to their old profession.
legal steps, what is required more is were formed to go into the plight of It was in this end in view that
social programmes which will give manual scavengers. They submitted he decided to impart vocational
the legislative measures adequate their reports but they did not training in marketable trades to
SULABH INDIA 2 May 2012
them at vocational training centres. locally and are used by persons of attitudinal change among the
The recent Sulabh experience has belonging to all communities. people towards them. This attitudinal
been training of liberated women Another training centre was set up change is of considerable relevance
scavengers at training centres at at Tonk and the same methodology as at one point of time when they
Alwar and Tonk in Rajasthan. It was adopted as in the case of Alwar. were engaged in manual scavenging
was at Alwar that the training was Another programme relating to the people looked at them with
started. The vocational training them, which was equally important, hatred. But now they are using
centre is named ‘Nai Disha’. was to bring them in the mainstream goods, articles, eatables prepared by
A decision regarding selection of the society by giving a place them gladly and treat them on a par
of courses is taken by women of respect and also by bringing with others. They have now been
scavengers themselves. They are attitudinal change among the people absorbed in the mainstream of the
taught food processing, beauty towards them. This has been done society.
care, cutting and tailoring etc. They by taking them to the temples where Sulabh International Social
are also engaged in stitching frocks, for centuries they were not allowed. Service Organisation recommends
night dress, napkins, bedsheets, They were taken to Nathdwara that our Alwar experience may be
saree embroidery etc. The women temple at Udaipur, Rajasthan where replicated in other states. There
who have undergone training at they offered prayers alongwith is a case for setting up centres on
the centre have acquired self- orthodox vedic Brahmins. They the pattern of Nai Disha at various
confidence. The vocational training later interdined with the Brahmins. other places in the country and this
centre at Alwar is a unique case Dr. Pathak has led scores of liberated experiment may be incorporated
of women empowerment. The and rehabilitated women scavengers in the rehabilitation programme
initiative in imparting training to to enter the local Jagannath Temple of scavengers of the Government
the liberated scavengers in market at Alwar. These liberated scavengers of India. The State Governments
oriented trades through vocational also dined with the same upper caste and other voluntary organisations
training centres has yielded people whose dry latrines they used may be involved in setting up such
laudable results. The liberated to clean and who hated them. They centres as part of the Government
scavengers are now settled in also performed puja with Vedic of India programme. It should be
dignified employment, trades and Brahmins and also dined with them. possible for Sulabh International
occupations. Their socio-economic These are important from two points Social Service Organisation to
status has gone up. They are now of view; one is that such steps have train participating voluntary
engaged in producing their own helped the liberated scavengers in organisations as to how to set up
products and sending them to market bringing them in the mainstream of and run such centres. Sulabh may
for sale. Their goods are absorbed the society and the other is indicative work as mother NGO.
SULABH INDIA 3 May 2012
COVER STORY
Ambassador of Portugal
Visits Sulabh
Whenever spring is around was remarkable not only because of those who were waiting for him,
the corner, Sulabh is twice its timing, when flowers in our lawn with bouquets and garlands in
blest. Like extraordinary were in full bloom, but also because their hands. That he knew the
things happening about this time the Ambassador himself exuded Indian greeting instantly won him
of the year in the past, none other disarming informality. admiration and applause.
than Hon’ble Mr. Jorge Ayers Stepping out of his limousine, The Ambassador was surprised
Roza de Oliveira, Ambassador he greeted with ringing “Namaskar” to see his blown-up picture facing
of Portugal to India, visited Sulabh the Founder, Sulabh Sanitation him on the Sulabh campus, as their
campus on March 17, accompanied and Social Reform Movement, car drove in. Looking at it, he told
by his wife, Mrs. Maria. The visit Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, and all Dr. Pathak, “What a welcome for
Hon’ble Mr. Jorge Ayers Roza de Oliveira, Ambassador of Portugal
to India and his wife Mrs. Maria with the children of Sulabh Public
School during their visit to the Sulabh Campus: March 17, 2012
SULABH INDIA 4 May 2012
me? Seeing my pictures on the
road, as we drove into the Sulabh
campus, my wife is telling me that
I have already become a celebrity!”
Shaking hands with Dr. Pathak
and all others they were introduced
to, the Ambassador and his wife
promptly established a kind of
rapport with their hosts, which
made their visit more friendly and
memorable. Frequently breaking
into Hindi while acknowledging
greetings of people they met or
talking to them as they moved
around the campus, the visitors
charmed their hosts with their
infectious informality and Hon’ble Ambassador of Portugal to India, speaking in the Prayer Hall at the Sulabh Campus
camaraderie.
Before conducting them to the How could scavenging be done
lawn where liberated Alwar and away with without the sewage
Tonk scavenger ladies were eagerly Holes left open in the system? Answering this question
waiting for them, Dr. Pathak briefed dug-up pits behind Dr. Pathak led the visitors to the
the visitors about the transformation Toilet Exhibition Block on the
the toilets helped in
Sulabh had brought about in campus and showed them how holes
absorption of water
their lives, from scavenging to left open in the dug-up pits behind
from the sullage and
respectable citizens and working the toilets helped in absorption
in professions where they could left only waterless of water from the sullage and left
earn and live without any stigma excreta behind only waterless excreta behind,
or sign of untouchability. The which also decomposed into
visitors were happy to meet these Dr. Pathak opened the tap connected useful fertilizer with the passage
neatly dressed ladies betraying to the Effluent Treatment Plant, of time. Seeing various shapes and
not a sign of their detestable past and collected in a flask completely sizes of toilets for use both by the
and only demanding attention as transparent water without any sign poor and the well-to-do, the visitors
respectable citizens now. One of the of sullage, the visitors were really were full of admiration for the
Alwar ladies performed welcome impressed. The Ambassador was Sulabh technology, the brainwork
‘arti’ and applied ‘tilaks’ on the completely taken by surprise when of Dr. Pathak, and came to realize
foreheads of Ambassador and his an igniter he held in his own hand why Sulabh was attracting great
wife. As they moved forward, they set alight the mantle of a lamp fixed attention both at home and abroad
were surprised to hear all of them to a pole. Dr. Pathak explained to now.
saying, “Good morning, Sir. Good the visitors the miracle of the Sulabh But the most astonishing
morning, Good morning.” To their technology, which produces biogas thing the visitors found was the
great surprise, the visitors took their from human wastes which can be faculty acquired by Sulabh Public
leave, saying “Jai Hind” before they used not only for lighting purposes School children, to accord them
were escorted by Dr. Pathak to the but also warming themselves by welcome in Sanskrit. That these
Effluent Treatment Block. the poor in winter and for cooking children coming from poor families
When Dr. Pathak said water for in the kitchen. Like many other besides being first generation
the lawn and the plants was very diplomats who have visited Sulabh learners could start doing so well
rich in nutrients as it was extracted earlier, the Ambassador’s wife was under Sulabh’s tutelage impressed
from the sewage of the Toilet Block happy to fry a papad in the Sulabh the Ambassador and his wife. They
built for public use by Sulabh, the kitchen which entirely depended on were also surprised to see girls
visitors couldn’t believe it. When biogas for cooking. making sanitary napkins as part of
SULABH INDIA 5 May 2012
Hon’ble Ambassador of Portugal to India showing to his wife Mrs. Maria a bowlful of dried human excreta from a Sulabh toilet which in
course of time has turned into manure, odourless and hard
their training as members of the had changed from the ancient past to The esteemed guests stood
Sulabh School Sanitation Club. the present day. After they had gone with folded hands as the prayer
After they had gone round the round the museum the visitors were song sung by Sulabh Music Section
tailoring class, the beauty parlour conducted to the Sulabh laboratory to the accompaniment of tabla and
training room, the electrical training and explained how a watch is harmonium echoed in the hall.
centre of the school, the students kept through chemical analysis on The citation for the Ambassador
stood in line formations in the the quality of water produced by the which was read out at the main hall,
school compound and sang a song, effluent treatment plant. stated: “Your Excellency Oliveira
saying the visitors farewell. They Before entering the auditorium had graduated in English and
left the school on a happy note after for the last phase of their visit, German studies from the University
getting themselves photographed both the Ambassador and his wife of Lisbon; joined the Ministry of
with children. garlanded the statues of Mahatma Foreign Affairs to be posted at the
The visitors were totally Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Embassy in Luanda, and later led a
surprised to see the universal toilet They were cheered as they entered Portuguese delegation to NATO in
evolution over the ages explained the auditorium where proceedings Brussels in 1993. You have been a
through exhibits and charts in began with the Sulabh prayer. diplomatic advisor to the Defence
the Sulabh International Museum of Aao Hum Miljulke Banayen Minister, the Prime Minister, the
Toilets. They evinced great interest Sulabh Sukhad Sansar European Commissioner for Justice,
in most of the exhibits and could (Let’s all join and build a happy Home Affairs, and the Director of
clearly see how sanitation mores Sulabh world) the Middle East Department and
SULABH INDIA 6 May 2012
Portuguese Ambassador to India with his wife observing a flask full of sewage water treated with Sulabh Effluent Treatment Technology being
explained by Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak that reduces the bio-chemical oxygen demand to less than 10 mg/litre
finally Ambassador to India since Madhubani paintings. Speaking on could not express his thoughts
February, 2011. You were very the occasion, Dr. Pathak recalled properly, he would switch over to
keen to come to India before his life-long experiences how he English. He said he got interested
your posting here. You love this had shaped Sulabh from an idea to in visiting the Sulabh Campus after
country and understand and speak a vibrant organization, which has reading the Sulabh India magazine.
a bit of Hindi also. Your priority now started ringing bells all over “My wife and I truly enjoyed
is the economic relations between the world. Service to community witnessing the marvellous work you
Portugal and India. has been the motto of Sulabh and it do. We shall keep in touch with you
“Sir, the environment is a shall remain so in the days to come, and hope to return for the fashion
universal problem and, hence, we said Dr. Pathak. Mahatma Gandhi show by the liberated scavenging
look forward to working with your wanted to end untouchability. women. Portugal is a small country,
people to promote sanitation and Sulabh has sought to fulfil his its present population being half of
human rights. Let us join to make dream by making scavengers give what Delhi has now. So the question
places clean and people healthy. up their calling with the installation of making use of Sulabh technology
Once again, I welcome you, Sir, on of Sulabh toilets and rehabilitating there does not arise. However,
the Sulabh Campus.” them in other professions so that it is a remarkable work done by
Formally welcoming the they could earn and live well. Dr. Pathak.” The Ambassador
honoured visitors, Dr. Pathak Thanking Dr. Pathak for the concluded his brief speech by
presented a garland and a white warm welcome extended to him saying, “Bahut Bahut Dhanyawad.”
shawl to each of them and also gave and his wife, the Ambassador said Later, the Ambassador wrote a
them each a set of books, detailing he would have liked to speak in letter to Sulabh, expressing similar
Sulabh’s story and achievements. Hindi, but since he did not know the sentiments.
They were also presented language too well and, therefore,
SULABH INDIA 7 May 2012
EVENTS
India Water Week-2012
Water, Energy and Food Security
–A.K. Sengupta
Ministry of Water
Resources, Government
of India celebrated
“India Water Week-2012” on the
theme “Water, Energy and Food
Security for Solutions” from 10th
to 14th April 2012 at New Delhi. An
exhibition was also arranged from
10th to 12th April 2012 at Pragati
Maidan to provide the opportunity
to the participant water resources
development organizations and
corporates to project the state of
art technologies by demonstrating
their capability, in providing
services or equipment.
The event provided a forum
for exchange of views and forming
opinions about developmental
needs of the water resources sector, Hon’ble Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister, India at the India Water Week-2012
issues that need to be tackled in at New Delhi
diverse socio-economic scenarios
along with technological services estimated to be “100% higher” Building for Water Resources
available for solutions envisaged. than the water available. Management, Water Quality and
Hon’ble Prime Minister, Dr. The inaugural session was Health and Research in Water
Manmohan Singh in his inaugural attended by more than 1100 Sector. The technical sessions
speech highlighted the issues delegates. were attended by more than 700
concerning water resource During the event 15 technical delegates from India and abroad.
management and how the same sessions were held namely The participants deliberated on the
is linked with the developmental Integrated Water Resources change facing the water, energy
programmes of the country. Management, Water and and agro-food sectors to meet the
Noting that “India has a Infrastructure Development, Water food requirement of burgeoning
scarcity of water,” Dr. Singh said for Energy Security, Water for population under increasing
that “rapid economic growth and Food Security, Climate Change, pressure on land and water
urbanization are widening the Water Governance, Water Security resources in Asia and consequences
demand supply gap”. for Livelihood and Environment, of apprehended climate change.
Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Economics and Financing of Once viewed as an infinite
the deputy chairman of India’s Water Projects, Groundwater and bountiful resource, water
Planning Commission, said that Management, Urban and Rural today defines human, social, and
unless action is taken, water Water Management, Flood and economic development. Though
consumption in India by 2030 is Drought Management, Capacity most of our civilization flourished
SULABH INDIA 8 May 2012