Clean Toilets Challenge nominations showcase best models of public toilets

Dec 22,2023

Citizens, ULBs, SHG groups and States are actively participating in the Clean Toilets Campaign, not only by raising awareness on the significance of clean toilets but also by taking practical steps to ensure there cleanliness and maintenance. To identify the best model public toilets, under the Clean Toilets Challenge, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) called for nominations by cities, parastatal bodies, private operators, NGOs, SHGs, relevant Govt. Departments and Ministries. The nominations are based on the parameters of 'FACES' - Functional, Accessible, Clean, Eco-friendly, and Safe toilets.

Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri launched the 5-week Clean Toilets Campaign from 19th November, World Toilet Day to 25th December Good Governance Day. To assess the cleanliness, hygiene, maintenance, functionality, accessibility, safety and other facilities in public toilets, a ‘Toilet Grading’ system has been devised and is being facilitated by various Self Help Groups (SHGs) in ULBs. SBM-U coordinated with DAY-NULM and tagged SHGs to respective ward areas for grading the PTs. The SHGs involved in the exercise were trained on various details of grading and the parameters. This activity will end on 25th Dec., 2023.

The cities and ULBs have shown keen interest in facilitating quality sanitation services by adopting innovation and smart solutions for clean toilets. Besides the cleanliness drives and refurbishment of toilets, some exceptional smart toilet models and best practices are motivating other ULBs. In UP’s Gorakhpur, SHGs are engaged in manufacturing toiletries under the name of Rapti. Ludhiana has installed solar panels for energy-efficient public toilets. Navi Mumbai’s aspirational toilet model has been made out of recycled material and the O&M is handled by NGOs aligning with the existing comprehensive City O&M plan. Recycled and treated water will be used in these toilets. Students from Korutla are engaged in tieing "Swachh Rakhi" to shopkeepers and making them promise to use public toilets. Surat is integrating toilets into affordable housing with decentralized STPs and the used water is being recycled and reused. They are proposing aspirational toilets and are themed on making space for women, like feeding rooms and diaper changing rooms. Ahmedabad’s focus is on pink toilets in vegetable markets that has a heavy footfall of women.

The nomination form for Clean Toilets Challenge is live on https://ctc.sbmurban.org/ and the applications are open till 23rd Dec., 2023. Once the nominations conclude, an independent jury of experts and officials will evaluate the nominated toilets and the best model toilets selected by MoHUA, will be awarded the ‘Swachh Bharat Saarvajanik Shauchalaya’ seal recognizing their sanitation facilities as benchmarks for others to replicate and cross learn from.

The SHGs are grading the CT/PTs and assessing toilets based on functionality and accessibility. In some ULBs like Korutla, besides the work authorization letter, the SHG members are being given official ID cards for grading toilets. ULBs like Namli had a pre-grading training session for the SHG women to explain the norms to follow. In Chandigarh, Swachhata Paarkhis are grading CT/PTs citywide. The team is meticulously checking all parameters to ensure that cleanliness and hygiene standards are being met.  The CT/PTs will be graded till 25th Dec., 2023.