Centre for Toilet Technology and Training

Gramalaya has established a Toilet Technology cum Training Centre at its rural headquarters at Kolakudipatti village in Thottiam block in Tiruchi district. The Toilet technology center was established with the funding support from Water Partners International, USA as a part of its WATSAN project. The centre has display various models of toilets which could be used in the total Sanitation campaign in rural areas including eco-san models. The centre will if necessary provide training for representatives and field staff of Non Governmental Organisations and Government officials including block co-ordinators involved in the TSC programme.

The trainings are provided to masons and members of Womens Self -Help Groups formed by Gramalaya. Representatives of both Government and NGOs from other States have visited the training centre and have also received both training and sketches of various models for their use later. The centre also provided training for village representatives and government officials involved in the world bank operated and WaterAid funded health scheme in Maharashtra. The centres also teaches how people can construct zero budget toilets using locally available materials. Field visits to villages where Zero budget toilets are in use are also arranged by the organisation.

Toilet in Padmanabapuram palace made of stone built 400 years back

The Centre also has models of both Water less toilets and toilets which require reduced intake of Water suitable to the coastal, tribal, rocky terrain, water-logging and models for urban areas. The centre has domestic toilet models ranging in price from Rs.150 to Rs.7500 which are also environment friendly. All models in the centre are based on the fact that they were successfully introduced in rural areas in various places in the district. Gramalaya also introduced child friendly toilets in municipalties and corporation areas. These child friendly toilets are situated adjacent to the regular toilets constructed by the City Corporation and maintained under the pay and use concept by Womens Self-Help Groups, All Child Friendly Toilets are fully used by the neighbourhood children.

The centre also has models of School toilets which are suitable for primary and middle schools in rural areas. Similarly the centre also has models of toilets which can be built in Anganwadis under the TSC programme. The centre has facilities to provide training and demonstration - for nominal fees - of models in the centre for the benefit of NGO representatives and government officials involved in the Water Supply ,Health and Sanitation fields. The center has miniature models of School toilets which are suitable for primary and middle schools in rural areas. Similarly the technology center also has models of toilets which can be built in Anganwadis under the TSC programme. The models displayed in the Technology centre are only indicative and the center encourages innovative, locale specific models using local materials.

Updated: Friday 15 January 2010

Tags: Eco-san Toilets, Low-cost toilet models, local community, Sanitation in rural, urgan, tribal and coastal.