First pilot launched in Raigad district of Maharastra in association with Podar Advisory & Consulting Enterprise Pvt Ltd (PACE) and Habitat for Humanity India, and Maharashtra Government
India CSR News Network
MUMBAI: Covestro, the world’s leading producer of high-performance polymers, along with the support of Maharashtra government, with assistance from Podar Advisory & Consulting Enterprise Pvt. Ltd. (PACE) and Habitat for Humanity India, today announced that it aims to construct 10 lakh toilets in India by 2022 under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
A recent report by the United Nations highlighted that nearly 60 per cent of India’s population practice open defecation which puts them at risk of diseases like cholera, diarrhea, typhoid etc. Over 600 million citizens of the country are prone to serious health hazards due to lack of proper sanitation facilities in the country. Sadly, the country loses at least 1000 children a day to diarrheal deaths and the reason for these is open defecation and lack of proper sanitation facilities.
The Swacch Bharat Mission which has been gaining momentum since 2014 requires the assistance of private partners to expedite the success of the mission. However, more than 50% of the toilets built under the mission were found underutilised.
Thus, with the help of technology and renowned partners, Covestro decided to provide cost-effective and sustainable sanitation solutions. The first pilot for this project was initiated in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, where the consortium partners built public and private toilets and also created awareness of the efficacy of healthy sanitation practices. The toilets which use prefabricated PIR (Polyisocyanurate) materials from Covestro are designed to be fire-resistant, heat resistant, weatherproof and smell-proof.
“Covestro has set ambitious sustainability targets for 2025; we aim to reduce emissions, invest in sustainable development and contribute to the improvement in the livelihoods of millions of people in underserved markets. With initiatives such as these we aim to galvanize our goals into action,” said Patrick Thomas, CEO, Covestro.
Adding to this, Ajay Durrani, Managing Director, Indian Sub-Continent, Covestro India, said: “Proper sanitation is one of the key factors affecting the liveability index of a country, and therefore, a key issue to be resolved. Sustainability dovetails with all of our initiatives. Approximately, 23% of girls drop out of school on reaching puberty due to a lack of facilities for them to manage their menstruation. In both urban and rural contexts, over 50% of adolescent girls lack access to adequate sanitation facilities. Hence, poor sanitation is an issue that affects not just the health, but also the socio-economic fabric of the country. Though such initiatives an partnership, Covestro is not only providing sustainable solutions for infrastructure, but also aiding in resolving socio-economic problems.”
