India as a developing country has taken several measures to improve the quality of life for citizens. The range of initiatives includes tackling human waste, minimizing and eliminating human scavenging, strengthening the infrastructure, facilitating roofs above the heads of economically backward families, spreading awareness regarding health and hygiene, etc. Since independence, governments have tried their best to take steps in the direction of development but numerous volunteers and philanthropists have also joined hands in the effort. One such non-governmental organization is Kamala Ankibai Ghamandiram Gowani Trust which has been working day and night for the welfare of Indian citizens.
Ms.Nidarshana Gowani who now handles the trust has recently got her hands on the issue of open defecation in the country. She conducted numerous awareness drives regarding the dangers of open defecation but realized that citizens are helpless. Thus, with their initiative Enactus, the trust built 20 toilets in Ayodhya. These toilets not only tackle the problem at hand but are also environmentally friendly.
The Trust joined hands with the Kabaadey foundation to come up with sustainable toilets that have been built using eco-bricks. For the uninitiated, eco bricks are created by tightly packing plastic pet bottles with non-recyclable waste like chocolate and chips wrappers and other soft plastic waste. Along with the waste, mud or sand is also filled in these bottles and each bottle acts like a brick. This way, toilet construction uses only 50% of the building cost as compared to traditional bricks. Alongside economic benefits, it also helps to reuse waste instead of sending it to landfills. The toilets also have urinals made using 20-liter water containers as a replacement for expensive and easy-to-vandalize ceramic urinals.
After the construction of the toilets, the trust along with the local authorities is also ensuring that the toilets are cleaned regularly and the citizens no longer defecate in open. This is a commendable effort from a private organization and is being applauded widely. Kamala trust has recently been in news for its philanthropic efforts touching multiple issues in society. However, Ms. Nidarshana Gowani says that they do not need news coverage. She also said that the trust has been working hard for years now and it just wishes to create a difference.
This is an ideal example of working for a cause and not applause. Other initiatives of the trust include stay animal feeding drives, sanitization drives, building temples and Dharamshala, organizing felicitation ceremonies for wives of military personnel, poverty alleviation initiatives, inclusion efforts for the transgender community, awareness programs, medical check-ups, and a lot more.
We hope that more such people follow suit and work for the welfare of the nation like Ms Nidarshana Gowani and Kamala trust are doing. We also hope that citizens understand their duties and maintain the newly built toilets the way they are.
