The Mahad Story: Making of an Open Defecation Free City

CEPT University All India Institute of Local Self-Government January 2013

Mahad, a small Council with a population of 27, 531 people in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, has made conscious efforts to attain and successfully sustain an open defecation free status since the 1980s. The city has managed to achieve this through a combination of imaginative leadership, creation of an extensive toilet infrastructure including well-maintained community toilets, use of social awareness and effective monitoring.

Acknowledgements

The work on this document has been carried out as a part of the Performance Assessment System (PAS) Project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, at the CEPT University. The authors would like to express their gratitude to the President of Mahad Municipal Council, its elected representatives, Chief Officer and other officials of the Mahad Municipal Council and the citizens of Mahad for their cooperation and sharing their inputs. The authors would like to thank Dr Dinesh Mehta and Dr Meera Mehta of CEPT, and Dr Sneha Palnitkar of the All India Institute of Local Self-Government (AIILSG), for their valuable inputs and guidance in preparing this document. They would also like to thank Mr Dheeraj Kapoor for helping with editing.

Further, based on the analysis of the Census 2011 information and the annual data collated under the PAS Project, the PAS team has shortlisted around a dozen cities in Maharashtra, which are potentially free of open defecation. The PAS team has strong intentions of following up and documenting these cases, which could show the way to other cities to achieve open defecation free status.

Padma Desai Utkarsha Kavadi

January 2013

Disclaimer The PAS Project documents are meant to disseminate information related to the work being undertaken under the Project. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in the document are entirely those of the authors and should not be attributed to CEPT University. The boundaries, colours, denominations, and other information shown in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of CEPT University concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries.

Introduction

The ‘Performance Assessment System’, validated through field visits. During or PAS is a five-year action research these visits, the PAS team also documents project initiated by the Centre for good practices. One such case is that of Environmental Planning and Technology Mahad, a small city in Maharashtra. (CEPT) University, Ahmedabad, with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Under the visionary leadership of the Foundation. It supports the development Council President, Mahad has undertaken of appropriate tools and methods to a number of proactive steps to achieve an measure monitor and improve delivery of open defecation free (ODF) status. These urban water and sanitation services in the included using social pressure, creating an states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. The exhaustive and well-maintained toilet PAS Project comprises three components: infrastructure to deter open defecation performance measurement, monitoring and an ongoing monitoring system. This and improvement. document traces the journey of Mahad towards becoming an open defecation free As a part of the PAS Project, the data city. submitted by urban local bodies (ULBs) is

Figure 1: Location of Mahad

M A H A R A S H T R A I N D I A

Mahad: A City Profile Mahad Municipal Council

The Mahad Municipal Council (MMC), Situated in the Raigad district of the established on August 15, 1866, is the Konkan region, Mahad is in the state of oldest Council in Raigad district. Maharashtra. It is about 175 km south of Currently, it is a class ‘C’ Municipal Mumbai. Located on the banks of two Council, spread over an area of 4.07 sq km. rivers, Savitri and Gandhari, and As per the recent Census of 2011, it has a surrounded by the Sahyadri mountain population of 27,531 with 5,287 range, it is famous for its pleasant climate households and a density of about 7,561 and scenic beauty. persons per sq km. The city is divided into

It has a long Buddhist and Maratha 17 wards, with an elected representative history. After the Maratha King for each ward. The total number of Chhatrapati Shivaji established Raigad Municipal staff members is 139 (Table 1). Fort as his capital, Mahad, about 30 km Mahad claims to be a completely slum- away, emerged as a vibrant market place. free city. Traders of this small hamlet started supplying goods to the Fort.1 In fact, the Table 1: Profile of Mahad Municipal name ‘Mahad’ appears to have originated Council from ‘Maha-Haat’ – a large market place. District Raigad There are historical records tracing the Area (in km) 4.07 religious importance of Mahad’s many Total city population 27,531 temples during Maratha rule. (Census 2011, provisional) Total city population (Census 2001) 24,276 As far back as 1840, the first Marathi Total households 6,369 school in Raigad district was set up in this (Census 2011, provisional) town. In 1874, the citizens of Mahad came Total households (Census 2001) 5,287 together to establish a public library Density (persons per sq km) 7,561 followed by a public hospital in 1887.2 It Total number of slum settlements 0 also has an illustrious association with Dr. Total number of electoral wards 17 Babasaheb Ambedkar, who undertook a Total number of municipal staff 139 successful ‘Water Satyagraha’ on March members Annual budget (2012) 8.9 20, 1927, to highlight the denial of water to (Rs in million) the Dalits of the city from the Chavder Source: Mahad Municipal Council. Lake. 3 This incident gained historic significance giving rise to a National Memorial in this city. Mahad is well known for its active involvement in the freedom struggle of India.

1 Mahad Municipal Council. Detailed Description, ‘Savistar Tippani’. Undated. 2 Ibid. 3 See: mahadelection.org.

Service levels in Mahad

A total of 3.6 million litres per day (MLD) PAS, the percentage of households with of water is produced in the city. The water individual toilets stands at 64 and those distribution network covers the entire city. with access to community toilets at 35. There are 3,946 water connections This implies that about 99 per cent of suggesting a household coverage of 62 per households have access to either cent. There is no underground sewerage individual or community toilets. This high network and the entire city’s wastewater percentage of toilet coverage suggests that is connected to open drains, a network Mahad is likely to be an Open Defecation which is about 4.5 sq km long. A unique Free (ODF) city. feature of Mahad is in its toilet coverage. According to the data collection rounds of

Mahad: Discovering an open defecation free city

Observing the very high percentage of status of Mahad being ODF. Following toilet coverage in Mahad reported by the this, a team from the PAS Project visited urban local body (ULB), the PAS team the city. The team identified a number of undertook a validation exercise to locations that are generally found to be establish data reliability and assess the susceptible to open defecation, such as: local situation. The close to 99 per cent unattended or residual open spaces, areas coverage potentially made Mahad an ODF surrounding community toilets, along city. A series of discussions were held open sewers or river banks, relatively with MMC officials to corroborate data unfrequented locations on the outskirts of authenticity. MMC officials, in turn, the city, and the dumping grounds of city displayed a high level of confidence in the waste (see photographs below).

Well maintained open spaces in Mahad which are free of open defecation.

The team undertook a number of early informal conversations, town residents morning visits to these locations. During stressed their reluctance to engage in open these repeated visits, not a single resident defecation. was found to be defecating in the open. The city has 59 community toilet blocks. It was clear from the Validation Exercise Site visits to community toilets revealed that Mahad was a town that had indeed reasonably well maintained infrastructure. achieved an ODF status. This reflected the Discussions with municipal officials persistent efforts undertaken over a long pointed to the fact that at various period of time. What follows is this junctures the Council had responded to journey of Mahad towards becoming an the lack of toilets for its population and ODF city. tried to bridge the gap. Similarly, during

Discussions with Mahad residents and the Chief Officer of the MMC during the Validation Exercise.

Discussions with the President of the MMC.

The ODF Initiative in Mahad: The Early Process

The process of making Mahad an ODF ODF cities. The lead was taken by local city started in the early 1980s – much leaders and included both social measures before the emergence of a global focus on and provision of physical infrastructure.

Creating social pressure

The foundation for making Mahad ODF stopping at that, the Council took severe was laid in the early 1980s by the then action against stubborn offenders and President of the Council, Mr S.S. Sawant, filed cases in the Mahad Civil Court who was a well respected advocate. He against them. had observed that defecating in the open was a widely prevalent practice amongst From time to time, the MMC Sanitary the town’s residents. He then initiated a Inspector continued with these morning campaign to educate and convince the vigilance rounds, thus creating constant residents to discontinue this practice. pressure on the citizens. Exposing the Handbills were distributed from time to errant individuals by publishing their time explaining its ill effects and exhorting photographs also attached social stigma the people to use community toilets. This and shame to this practice. As a parallel had a limited impact and people activity, in 1982, the MMC converted all continued to defecate in the open. dry pit latrines to pour flush latrines and put an end to manual scavenging. He realised that it was necessary to employ other means of dissuading Mr Sawant led the Mahad Council from residents. Thus, as a parallel strategy, the 1985 to 1996 and then again from 2001 till President and the MMC officials 2006. Under his uninterrupted 11-year undertook rounds of the city very early in tenure, the MMC accorded a high priority the morning (4.30 am to 8 am) and took to stopping open defecation and all efforts photographs of those found defecating in towards this goal continued unabated. the open. These photographs were then Council presidents who succeeded him in published in the local newspapers. Those the intervening period (1997–2000) who continued despite this ‘expose’ and maintained this focus and strategy. repeated warnings were fined. Not

Creating an infrastructure of community toilets

During this duration, it was also observed locations closest to the communities that that in some areas citizens resorted to lacked such access and constructed new open defecation not out of choice but community toilets using its own funds. compulsion as they did not have any Initially, these were built on government individual toilets and there were no land. However, this was not always community toilets near their residence. To possible as often the identified locations mitigate this, the MMC identified were on private land.

Toilets on private land – An unusual landowners seem to have willingly arrangement: Over the years, the MMC surrendered the required portion of their has built many community toilets on land for community toilets. As recalled by private lands. For this, an unusual Council officials, “Mr Sawant’s untiring strategy was employed. Mr Sawant efforts were there for us all to see. His personally went to the landowners to personal conduct was also exemplary. In request them to construct community this background, when he approached toilet blocks on their land. In a series of private landowners with requests, they meetings, he persuaded them to grant too felt part of a larger initiative. Few permission to the Council. Once resisted. Why only for toilets, there were convinced, each private landowner gave a cases in which landowners freely gave out ‘Permission Letter (Sammati Patra)’ and a small portions of land for road ‘No Objection Certificate (NOC)’ to the construction under the Development Plan.” MMC. What is noteworthy here is that there was no incentive or compensation Due to this special arrangement between granted to the landowner for surrendering the MMC and private landowners, a wide part of the land. Moreover, there was no network of community toilets could be apparent guarantee that this land would created, mostly on the outskirts of the city. be returned to the owner in the future if so desired by him/her. Despite this,

Child-friendly arrangements: In some blocks. These were about 5 feet wide with cases, it was observed that children an open gutter, which was joined to the accompanying adults continued septic tank. The footpath was cleaned defecating in the open as the community daily by the conservancy staff. Children toilets were not child friendly. To found this far more agreeable. Gradually, circumvent this, the MMC constructed they too started using the community small, open footpaths adjoining these toilets.

Legislative provision for providing properties to construct individual toilets toilets: In the 1980s, it was made on their premises in order to be granted mandatory for all new residential building permission.

Persistent Efforts Continue

The efforts initiated in the 1980s to make further momentum with a toilet survey, the city ODF continued in Mahad over the followed by measures to strengthen the next two decades. In 2007 this gained toilet infrastructure.

The 2007 ‘Toilet Survey’ of individual the city was divided into two zones and and community toilets two separate registers were kept for them. Detailed information on property number, Regular vigilance, exposing errant name of owner, type of toilet, septic individuals and, thus, bringing about tank/others, disposal of waste (municipal social pressure continued from time to drains, soak pit) and type of toilet time. However, not stopping at that, the (individual/community) was gathered MMC took another proactive decision – to (Table 2). This entire exercise was carried conduct a comprehensive ‘Toilet Survey’ out by the staff of the MMC. in 2007. For enumerating individual toilets,

Table 2: Survey of individual toilets Sr Property Owner’s Type of Disposal of Type of toilet no no name toilet wastewater

Similarly, an extensive survey of and type of toilet. As per the categories community toilets vis-à-vis their outlined by the MMC, an inventory of availability and present condition was community (public), shared as well as undertaken. The survey included detailed pay-and-use toilets in the city was made. information on location, total number of A qualitative assessment of their physical blocks, number of seats available (male condition was also done. and female), land ownership pattern (government, municipal council, private),

Table 3: Community toilets in Mahad

Sr Area/place No of No of seats Type of Type of Remarks no blocks land toilet

This survey enabled the MMC to identify longer be used. A number of these were community toilets that had inadequate on private land. seats, were in a state of disrepair, or were completely dilapidated and thus could no

Strengthening the network of an extensive and functional network was community toilets created in the city.

The previous investments in creating a Spatial distribution of community network of community toilets have stood toilets: Based on feedback from the in good stead for the Council. This was community, the MMC has managed to used as a basis for identifying gaps. In this, develop a very good spatial distribution of toilets that were in a relatively good its community toilets. Figure 2 illustrates condition were repaired and upgraded, this. The community toilets are located all but those that were completely through the inhabited area, thus reaching dilapidated were demolished, making a large population segment without access way for new and larger community blocks. to individual toilets. Considering a buffer Once again, the same strategy as in the of 150 m (or a walking time of two past – requesting private landowners to minutes), the influence area of community grant the MMC permission to toilets extends to more than 66 per cent of upgrade/repair/build on their lands under the inhabited area of the city. an informal verbal arrangement – was Shared toilets: The MMC has also followed. Except for only one case that considered the cases where community remains mired in dispute, none of the toilets were not accepted by the users. At other landowners objected to the three such locations, the Council has continuation of the same agreement. provided one toilet seat per two Indeed, this emerges as a unique feature households (refer Figure 2). Access to of the ODF exercise and appears to have these toilets is controlled by those two played a decisive role in creating the households and their maintenance is also required toilet infrastructure. taken care of by the users.

It is also indicative of the community Provision for women users in spirit that seems to have been generated community toilets: Mahad has 59 and maintained in the city. This was community toilet blocks with provisions possible as residents felt part of the larger for both male and female users. These 59 initiative and willingly contributed (in blocks have 297 seats, out of which 150 kind) to the same. In some cases, the seats are for female users and 147 seats for communities also made a request via their male users. There are no major exclusive local councillors for repair or total blocks for female users. However, there reconstruction. This entire exercise was are separate entry points for females and self-financed by the MMC. Over the past males in these blocks. three years, the Council has spent Rs 20 lakh from its own municipal budget resources. As a result of these initiatives,

A public toilet with separate entry for male and female users. The city has similar arrangement for all its community toilets.

Figure 2: Location and influence area of community toilets in Mahad

Source: Primary survey.

Regular operation and maintenance of problems (such as dirty/overflowing community toilets toilets, damaged doors). Sometimes local councillors attending the Council for some Regular cleaning as well as intermittent other tasks communicated the problem to repairs are carried out by the MMC from the concerned officer. The Council, on its its own funds, without levying any part, took “not more than two to three charges on the users. Five ‘safai days to respond”, as recounted by a karamcharis’ were allocated specific Council official. Thus, the overall ‘prabhags’ (zones) for daily cleaning. They framework for O&M was personalised cover them within a specified time (6 to 10 and interactive. am) and enter the completion of tasks in a muster book. This is supervised The Health Department of the MMC has intermittently and not on a day-to-day one Head of Department (HoD), one basis. A ‘mukkadam’ (supervisor) Assistant, one Supervisor and 47 Safai supervises the status of community toilets Kamgaars (which include permanent and from time to time. In case of persistent temporary staff). Of the 47, five are complaints from the community, a engaged in the daily cleaning of the Sanitary Inspector visits the site to oversee community toilets. The city is divided into the cleaning operations. Thus, a simple five ‘prabhags’, each allocated to one Safai framework guides the overall operation Kamgaar for daily cleaning in the and maintenance (O&M), allowing a morning. Thus, the ratio of number of flexible and manageable system to emerge. seats per staff member is about 60. Within it, whenever conspicuous gaps are Regular O&M of community toilets was noticed, they have been acted upon confirmed during the Validation Exercise quickly, even as routine tasks went on. by the PAS team. It was observed that community blocks were in a reasonably Specific complaints by users are attended good and functional condition in almost to within a reasonable time frame. all the locations (refer photos). Indeed, Although there is a ‘muster’ kept in the regular O&M of the toilet infrastructure Council office for formal registration of emerges as an important contributing complaints, this was not the preferred factor to the ODF status of Mahad. system by the users. For instance, complainants visited the Council office or telephonically registered recurrent

One of the 59 community toilets blocks in Mahad.

The community toilets are cleaned regularly and well kept.

Easy access to community toilets has helped in eliminating open defecation in Mahad.

Efforts continue : ‘Hagindari Mukta open defecation status of the city was Yojana’ made by appointing four municipal staff (mukkadams). An in-depth exercise, it Following the Toilet Survey, under the contained details such as name of the directives of the Government of ‘prabhag’ (zone), total number of Maharashtra (GoM), a formal ‘Hagindari inhabitants in that zone, open defecation Mukta Yojana’ (ODF Project) was publicly spots in the zone, total number of initiated by the MMC in 2008. This individuals resorting to open defecation, directive was issued under the Sant Gadge percentage to total population, total Baba Nagari Swachhata Abhiyan (SGBA) number of community toilets, and, finally, by the GoM’s Department of Water total number of seats (Table 4). Supply and Sanitation. Following a meeting with the Zila Adhikari of Raigad district, a plan of action was outlined by the MMC. A zone-wise inventory of the

Table 4: Inventory of public toilets

The Health Department of the MMC activity, it was also proposed to fine the continued to identify individuals still landowners on whose land this practice found defecating in the open and made was found to be prevalent. This proved to their names public (Figure 3). In a city of a a deterrent as landowners started few thousand households, this supervising their plots more closely. ‘personalisation’ of an undesired activity created public shame and became successful in curbing it. As a parallel

Figure 3: Letter to the MMC President in 2008, with a list of persons found defecating in the open

Present situation Toilet Survey of 2007, towards strengthening physical infrastructure have The present situation vis-à-vis toilet had a high impact. Data validation by the coverage, both individual and community, PAS team shows that all households in is very good. The coverage of households Mahad have access to either their own with either individual or community individual toilets (85 per cent) or have toilets is very good. Evidently, the easy access to a community toilet (within dedicated efforts by the MMC, after the walking distance of less than 150 m).

Future Plans and Sustainability of ODF Initiative

Mahad has demonstrated a proactive Under the same scheme, in areas where approach towards achieving ODF status. individual toilets are difficult due to space What started as a campaign two decades constraints, shared toilets would be ago has led to deeper behavioural changes constructed on land made available by the as the city continues to maintain a near MMC (Resolution dated 2/2/2012).Both total absence of open defecation. Even water and electricity connections are after the departure of Mr S.S. Sawant in proposed in such toilets. 2006, the key initiator of the ODF campaign, subsequent Council presidents Sub-contracting maintenance of have maintained its momentum. The community toilet infrastructure future plans of the MMC are indicative of this. The MMC too has retained its focus Under a yearly contract, maintenance of on this objective as demonstrated by a community toilets is being given to a local number of initiatives that are either private contractor. For this, an exhaustive proposed or under implementation. list of items has been drawn. This includes: specifications for water closets; Provision of individual and shared connections to drainage; fixing door toilets shutters and frames of different thicknesses and panelling; panelled Under the Maharashtra Sujal Nirmal window shutters with specific thickness Abhiyan’s ‘Maharashtra Suvarna and fittings; specifications for masonry, Mohotsavi Nagari Dalit Basti Pani plastering, painting and waterproofing; Puravtha va Swacchata Yojna’, the MMC tiling; and, grill work for windows and has completed a detailed survey of ventilators. Further, the contract also infrastructure availability in the Dalit details the type, diameter and necessary community of the city. With the Mega- fittings (bends, tees, single/double Mission’s objective of ‘development and junction joints) for wastewater pipes along upgradation of infrastructure in water with details of excavation, laying and supply, sewerage and urban sanitation refilling of trenches. Each item outlines a sector’, individual toilets for this target corresponding fixed rate. Thus, this will group will be provided. The cost of an lead to regular maintenance of community individual toilet is pegged at Rs 12,000, of toilets. which 80 per cent is the grant under the scheme, and 20per cent is the beneficiary Pay-and-use community toilets contribution. However, the beneficiary contribution will be borne by the MMC The MMC received a grant of Rs from its own funds (Resolution dated 14,100,000 from the ‘Nagar Parishad 2/2/2012). This will make the individual Prashasan Sanchanalaya’ (City Manager’s toilets fully subsidised for poor Association, Directorate of Municipal beneficiaries. This, in addition to the Administration) for special projects existing infrastructure, will further (’Vaishishtya Purna Yojana’) for 2005–06 strengthen the Council’s goal of making to 2010–11. Under this grant, a ‘pay-and- the city ODF. use’ model for community toilets has been sanctioned at a cost of Rs 3,458,741. This

16 community block adopts a number of are to be constructed from the Council’s innovative design features. For instance, it own funds. is a large toilet block containing separate male and female toilets, baths and a Introduction of sanitation charges in caretaker room. This community toilet is municipal by–laws proposed on the peripheral boundary of a girl’s school in a busy market area on land The MMC has proposed to include owned by the Council. Owing to its sanitation charges as part of property tax. location, it is designed in a manner so as A resolution to this effect has been passed to clearly demarcate areas of usage for the in the Municipal by-laws. The exact school and the general public, each with amount to be charged is currently under separate entrances. The portion for discussion. common use is patterned on the pay-and- use model. Within this arrangement, Thus, the two-pronged approach of the requirements of both the user groups – the Council is being continued in its future students of the school as well as the plans too: both for assessing needs and general public in the market area –will be creating the required infrastructure as met. well as properly maintaining the existing facilities. Discussions with the Council Construction of a two-storey president also revealed that the focus is community toilet block increasingly towards construction of individual toilets with adequate on-site The Council proposes to demolish two disposal via septic tanks. Similarly, community toilet blocks that are in a levying user charges via pay-and-use dilapidated condition. In their place, the community blocks and introduction of new model proposed is a double-storey sanitation charges in the property tax block with 11 seats – six for male users indicate a movement away from fully and five for female users. This double- subsidised infrastructure and service storey community toilet block has been towards a more financially viable one. proposed as a response to space Further, the Council’s efforts towards constraints on the existing locations. Both introducing innovative design features are noteworthy.

Figure 4: Timeline of key milestones

Early 1980s: ODF initiative undertaken by President of the MMC

Social awareness and pressure through a strategy of photographing, publishing names and levying fines on those found defecating in the open.

Late 1980s onwards: Creation of toilet infrastructure

Private landowners willingly surrender part of land for community toilets.

Creating child-friendly toilets, adequate seats and separate entry for women.

Making individual toilets compulsory for getting new building permissions in private premises.

2007 : Exhaustive Toilet Survey

Detailed information on individual and community toilets – type, location, number, condition, ownership and waste disposal.

2008: ‘Hagindari Mukta Yojana’ (Open Defecation Free) Project

Zone-wise inventory of ODF sites, identification of people still practicing OD. Repair, upgradation and reconstruction of community toilets in the city.

2010 onwards: MMC future plans geared towards:

Support to construction of individual and community toilets. Pay-and-use model for public toilets. Service contract to private contractors for O&M of community toilet blocks. Levying sanitation charges under property tax.

Conclusion

The story of Mahad shows the efforts of a Social pressure small ULB to achieve the status of an ODF city. A number of factors have contributed A combined strategy of publicly exposing to this. and penalising offenders and, in some cases, even levying fines was highly Leadership effective. It created indirect social pressure and gradually brought about a deeper The central role played by a visionary behavioural change in the residents such leadership is evident in all the efforts that this practice became unacceptable. In undertaken by the MMC. The first a small, personalised setting of a town, impetus towards making Mahad ODF this unwanted publicity and the attached came from the President of the MMC shame was one of the biggest deterrents. almost two decades ago. This laid the In many other instances, especially in foundation for a sustained drive against rural areas, this strategy has been used open defecation. The long leadership with high impact as part of a larger provided by this President (1985–96 and information, education and then 2001–06) gave momentum to this communication (IEC) initiative that has campaign and maintained its focus. As included well planned efforts at using folk recalled by the Council President, officials dances, traditional theatre, children’s as well as several councillors, his towering rallies, door to door campaigns, etc. In personality created a culture of pro-action Mahad’s case, IEC in the formal sense of and responsiveness which, over time, got the word was not used, and was probably deeply embedded into the manner of not needed given the urban setting. conducting civic affairs. Even succeeding However, what is evident is a strong focus Presidents demonstrated a strong and relentless efforts to achieve goals. commitment towards this goal, as evident Guided by a proactive leader, the willing in the Toilet Survey of 2007 followed by participation of the Council staff as well as systematic efforts undertaken for the town residents is notable. ‘Open Defecation Free Project’ in 2008.

As recalled by the present President of the Ensuring adequate physical toilet MMC, “The long and sustained efforts by infrastructure one individual have created an environment where similar conduct is A gradual behavioural change was expected of us. Although he has departed, supported by creating adequate physical we are still guided by the precedents laid infrastructure of toilets – both individual by him.” Indeed, the catalytic role played and community. The Toilet Survey of 2007 by the leadership of the MMC emerges as that documented existing conditions and one of the key ingredients in making identified gaps was followed by Mahad an ODF city. construction of new community toilet blocks and repair of those in a decrepit state. The future proposals of the MMC are also geared towards augmenting as well as maintaining this infrastructure.

Thus, both the quantity as well as the Continued focus on O&M quality of toilet infrastructure and linked services were never undervalued by the The O&M of the physical infrastructure MMC. thus created has been given sufficient attention by the MMC. This has assured Innovative arrangements to involve continued usage by the community, private landowners thereby also deterring open defecation. Future proposals stress on sustainability In the MMC’s case, one of the most of the created infrastructure via sub- unusual arrangements is that of private contracting the maintenance of landowners surrendering part of their community toilets as well as levying user lands for construction of community fees. toilets. The complex issue of land availability, ownership and acquisition Thus, in this journey of Mahad towards was circumvented due to this unique achieving ODF status, the proactive and arrangement. A sense of inclusiveness and sustained efforts by the MMC to bring participation is demonstrated by this about deeper behavioural changes agreement wherein the residents willingly supported by well functioning toilet contributed towards a larger collective infrastructure emerge as the key effort by the Council. ingredients.

The Performance Assessment System (PAS) Project

The ‘Performance Assessment System – PAS’ is a five-year action research project, initiated by the

CEPT University, Ahmedabad, with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It supports development of appropriate tools and methods to measure, monitor and improve delivery of urban water and sanitation services in the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. The PAS Project comprises three components of performance measurement, monitoring and improvement.

The PAS Project is supporting the development of City Sanitation Plans (CSP) to achieve open defecation free status for four small cities in Maharashtra, which are Wai, Hingoli, Ambajogai and Sinnar. These cities were selected by the Water Supply and Sanitation Department, Government of Maharashtra, and Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran (MJP). A framework for city-wide assessment using the full value chain for urban sanitation has been developed, which is being used in developing these CSPs. Initial workshops were organised by the MJP with officials of these cities to discuss the CSP approach. Draft plans for these cities are ready and will be discussed with city officials.

PAS Project

CEPT University Kasturbhai Lalbhai Campus, University Road, Navrangpura Ahmedabad 380 009, Gujarat, India Tel: +91-79-26302470

Fax: +91-79-26302075 www.pas.org.in

All India Institute of Local Self-Government M.N. Roy Human Development Campus, Plot No. 6, F-Block, Bandra Kurla Complex Bandra (East), Mumbai 400 051, Maharashtra, India Tel: +91-22 -26571713/14/15 Fax: +91-22 -2657 2286 www.aiilsg.org