Indian toilet scheme wins innovation award

October 11, 2012 01:30

An innovative scheme to provide rural Indian communities with toilets and running water in every house has scooped the first Global+5 award in Geneva.

"It's more than water and sanitation, it's human dignity," said Joe Madiath, head of the Mantra project (Movement and

Action network for Transformation of Rural Lives) run by Indian non-governmental group Gram Vikas.

Speaking at the awards ceremony in Geneva late Tuesday, Madiath expressed surprise that a project involving toilets "could lead to such a big prize."

The Global+5 award, created by the Geneva-based Global Journal, is aimed at honouring the "solutions to the most pressing global questions of the next five years."

Based in Orissa in eastern India, Gram Vikas helps to provide "blanket coverage" of toilets and piped running water to communities where 85 percent of the population has no access to a toilet and 99 percent no running water. So far, the Indian group says it has reached 988 villages, including those in hilly areas lacking electricity, claiming its project has led to a more than 80-percent drop in waterborne disease.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

Rural FMCG growth overtakes urban after 5 quarters

India's fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector witnessed growth in rural consumption in volume terms outpace urban consumption for the first time in five quarters, in the January-March period. According to a report from consumer...

AstraZeneca withdraws COVID-19 vaccine globally: Report

Pharma giant AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine is being withdrawn worldwide after the company acknowledged for the first time in court documents that it can cause a rare and dangerous side effect, according to a report in the British...

Molestation case: Guv won't show CCTV footage to Mamata, police but ....

Following the allegation, the police requested the Raj Bhavan to share the CCTV footage concerned.

Can West Indies win T20 World Cup?

'I think West Indies have to make sure to look after Shamar Joseph. Keep him injury-free for longevity.'

Pitroda remarks: Modi dares Stalin to snap ties with Congress over Tamil pride

He asked if DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, "who speaks of Tamil culture, such a serious allegation has been made--will DMK snap ties with Congress, for Tamil pride and the Tamil people."