Increase Access To Individual Toilets In Slums

The project was initiated with an objective of providing individual toilets and mobilizing people to stop open defecation and thus taking a step forward towards making the city open defecation free. Toilet construction has started in 11 slums of Amalner. Till date, construction of 30 toilets has been completed and families have started using the toilets, 9 toilets are currently under construction. Various challenges are being faced while implementing the project due to severe hit of COVID-19 pandemic second wave. It has impacted India from end of March, the state of Maharashtra being one among the worst affected. Project field operations came to standstill for almost 3 months due to lockdown imposed by government to curb spread of COVID. Inter and intra city transports were affected due to lockdown resulting in shortage of labour and construction materials. Even after the city of Amalner was partially open, local contractors were not ready to take contract for more number of toilets due to high volatility in prices of construction material and unavailability of skilled and unskilled labour. Even at that time few contractors have shown their willingness to construct toilets but at higher cost. The NGO is negotiating with the contractors to lower down their costs. There is only one vendor who used to make pre cast septic tank in Amalner. But unfortunately due to lockdown he has stopped making septic tanks now. So the NGO has to use septic tank made of bricks. Apart from this, monsoon season started from June 2021 and therefore, due to rains in Amalner, the work has slowed down in the slums. Water logging in slums hinders construction activity and even high moisture during monsoon doesn’t allow to complete paint work immediately after toilet construction. The slabs that are fixed on the top of the toilet (red stone) is supplied by only one vendor and moreover the stone considering the size that as per the need is not readily available.