1. Quality of Life Trust (QLT) History
Mission of Quality of Life Trust
To improve the quality of life in Indian villages near MGR Nagar, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India, while providing an opportunity for cultural interchange between East and West.
History of Quality of Life Trust
Quality of Life Trust was registered as an official Charitable and Educational Trust on December 8th, 2006, and it now performs ongoing work in different areas of social welfare.
Creation of Quality of Life Trust
During a pilgrimage to the holy hill Arunachala in Tiruvannamalai, a Western traveler, Robert Broughton, decided to extend his visit and live for some months in MGR Nagar, Samuthiram Village. This decision was partly inspired by meeting V. Dhakshinamoorthy and his family (from Sathya’s Cafe) and feeling touched by their warmth and generosity. As a result of a developing friendship, Dhakshinamoorthy shared that the village lacked certain basic amenities that Westerners took for granted. Robert was surprised to learn that basic sanitation was unavailable for most village residents. Robert saw an opportunity to build toilets for families in need. This project idea soon gave birth to the non-profit organization Quality of Life Trust.
Another Western traveler and friend of Dhakshinamoorthy’s family, Marga Vaquer, was touched by the beautiful yet challenging simplicity of Indian life in the village, and was moved to lend her time and support to the organization. Western traveler David Rhodes came to Tiruvannamalai and saw the opportunity to help with research, production and fundraising for ongoing village sanitation projects. Dhakshinamoorthy’s good friend, S. Ramesh, also expressed an interest in helping, and provided valuable insights from a local perspective. Dhakshinamoorthy’s wife, D. Lakshmi, joined the team, offering a much needed female Indian perspective. Dhakshinamoorthy had been concerned for some time about poverty issues in the villages and was happy to offer his time and skill as the leader of the team.
2. Project History – Ecosan Toilets
In 2007, when members of QLT were discussing village sanitation with people from Sustainable Technology in the Community, an NGO operating in Trivandrum, Kerala, the Ecosan toilet was introduced to QLT as an improved way to achieve basic village sanitation while having a positive impact on the environment.
Based on this information, QLT got funding for and constructed three Ecosan Toilets. This was the initial pilot project. It was found during this pilot project that adding bathing facilities to the toilet buildings gave the villagers a much better solution that solved more problems that they have in their day-to-day life.
QLT then made contact with Wherever The Need, who agreed to fund the construction of an additional 50 Ecosan Toilets, and who would work through Bless, in Cuddalore, an Indian NGO with experience in ECOSAN Construction, to support QLT. The project started building Ecosan Toilets in February of 2008, and completed the construction one year later.
3. Benefits of Ecosan Toilets
One main environmental benefit of the Ecosan Toilet is to recover the nitrogen-rich human waste byproducts, so they can be used to help food plants grow in the village, rather then just going to waste.
Another major benefit of the Ecosan Toilet is with water. No water is needed, reducing water consumption. No water connection is needed, as with other toilets, so the Toilet is easier to construct. No septic tank is needed, so the cost of the toilet is much less. Also there is no risk of water contamination, as is always the risk with septic tanks.
There is a strong health benefit as well. Human excretions often are the cause of diseases and spreading of the diseases. The composting action of the Ecosan Toilet prevents the spread of disease, sterilizes this waste and kills all the pathogens.
4. How Ecosan Toilets benefit the people
Sanitation
People are now able to use a toilet at their house, rather than relieving themselves in nearby fields. This makes toilet use easier; the women feel safer with the privacy of the toilet instead of doing toilet functions where they can be seen by men; it is easier for the children to use; and in bad weather it is much safer to use the bathroom. In addition, problems like snakes in the fields where toileting is done are entirely avoided.
Health
Use of the toilets has helped the village people avoid jaundice, which was a common problem before the introduction of the Ecosan Toilets.
5. Cooperation needed from the village people
Cooperation of the village people is vital to this project. For the project to succeed, long-standing habits of toilet use need to be changed for the men, woman and children.
6. How to obtain cooperation from village people
Each group represents a different set of problems.
Women have been the easiest to get to use the new toilets. Right away, they see the benefits of ease of use and improved privacy.
The woman get the children trained to use the toilets, so this comes naturally.
The men are more of a problem. They do not see as much need to change.
To encourage cooperation a number of things have been done. An educational program was conducted on the benefits of the Ecosan Toilets. This has been done both in group meetings and one on one. Also trips were made to villages that already were using Ecosan Toilets, so that the villagers could talk to other villagers who had gone through this change, and see for themselves that this was worthwhile.
We do not have a good solution for the men. Some have been able to see that it is safer. Some men can be convinced by their wives. Some can understand that late at night, the Ecosan Toilet is easier to use. Then, once they get started using it, then may continue.
7. Village meetings
Meetings have been an important component of this project. In these meetings, village people have been educated about the benefits of Ecosan Toilets, have had their questions answered, and have gotten to see that others in the village are interested in the Ecosan Toilet. This makes it easier for them to consider its use. Assistance is provided to QLT by Bless.
The benefits with composting water use and health were stressed again and again.
This education and meetings were especially needed since there are no other Ecosan Toilets in use near Tiruvannamalai.
8. Ecosan History
In India, Ecosan Toilets were first used in Kerala. Then Bless introduced them into Cuddalore and Scope introduced them into Trichy. In Auroville they were introduced with the help of Waterharvest.
QLT first learned about Ecosan from people in Kerala, then got books published by EcoSolutions and ACTED (Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development) in Puducherry. We then talked to the people at Bless, and got further information. After this, the pilot project was funded by QLT supporters and executed.
In the pilot build, the first unit was constructed per the basic plan, which did not include a washroom. The feedback we got from the villagers at that time was that adding a washroom would make these Toilets much more useful to the members of the family. Their problems dealing with personal cleanliness and sanitation extended beyond just toilet use, and included the need for daily bathing facilities.
QLT modified the design of the EcoSan by adding a bathing room, and, working with Wherever The Need and Bless, implemented the first major Ecosan Toilet construction effort in the Tiruvannamalai area, in MGR Village, adjacent to Tiruvannamalai.
QLT has developed a new innovation during this project. This innovation eliminates the ceramic toilet pan, and uses instead a form cast into the cement floor of the toilet to accomplish the same function.
9. Support provided to QLT from Bless and Wherever The Need.
The project would not have been possible without Wherever The Need, who provided funding (through Bless). Mr Paramasivam (of Wherever The Need/India) was particularly helpful providing management support and guidance to the project, and to help us provide good quality reports that would be useful to the donors.
Bless has provided much important help for this project. They were key in training QLT in the construction of the Ecosan Toilet. They also provided much education assistance. In addition, Bless set up the trips for our villagers to other locations where Ecosan Toilets were in use. Bless also taught QLT how to operate an accounting system that provides the needed visibility required by donors and by the Indian government. Whenever we had problems, we could always turn to Bless for help and answers.
Particular acknowledgement needs to be made to several people within the Bless organization. First, Mr Anthony Samy has always given us encouragement and guidance, and has made sure that the people within his organization gave Quality of Life Trust the support we needed. Mr Arumugam provided Quality of Life Trust with construction drawings and technical assistance, which greatly contributed to the success of the project. Mr Appu has provided unstinting support and training for our accounting system, and helped us produce the kind of financial reports that are needed by Bless and Wherever The Need.
The project would not have been possible were it not for the support that has been given.
10. Ecosan Toilet Features
Toilet
The first set of features has to do with collection of solid waste and the separation of fluid waste, so that the fluid waste can be used for garden and plant growth. A special ceramic toilet pan was designed so that in use, the solid matter and fluids can be separated.
The solids are collected in a sealed compartment, and the fluid waste is diverted so that it can be used immediately to enhance garden watering. Ash (or other drying material, such as sand or sawdust) is added to the solid waste to eliminate smell. This ash also improves the composition of the compost that is created by this process.
The Toilet is built with two solid waste collection compartments. One is used until it is full. Then it is sealed and the other compartment is used. The sealed compartment will naturally compost over the next six months. During this process it is heated past 160° C, so that all bacteria are destroyed and the resulting compost is safe for use.
The fluids are best used to water food plants for the family. In our project, often Banana plants, chilies or tomatoes are watered by the fluid waste from the Ecosan Toilet. Mango trees and coconut palms are also watered by the fluids collected from the Ecosan Toilet.
Washroom
The washroom is built as a separate room in the structure with its own door. In the pilot we built washroom as a compartment within the toilet, with only one door for both. People told us that this was not good, since they needed for different family members to use washroom and toilet at the same time.
Water is carried into the washroom by the people using it. Some families have actually piped water into the washroom, for easier use. The wastewater from the washroom is added to the wastewater from the toilet and both are used to provide water for plants. In this way, not even the bath water is wasted.
11. How village people use Ecosan Toilets
Most members of the families where Ecosan Toilets have been built now use it. They use it for toilet functions and bathing functions. Some people use the washroom to help with their washing of clothes. This is especially true if they have piped water into the washroom.
12. Ecosan usage problems
The two problems most reported are smell and cockroach infestations. Smell coming from the toilet means that more ash (or other drying material) needs to be added. To solve cockroach problems, neem leaves need to be added into the toilet compartment. This needs to be done until the infestation is resolved.
13. Comments from Village people about Ecosan Toilets
T R Sadasivam Family
“We use the Ecosan Toilet in a very nice way. The bathroom is excellent for my family. Before my wife and children needed to take a bath, this was very hard for them. We used a coconut leaf. It is not safe for health and each year we spent almost Rs 1500. Now we have a permanent bathroom. We installed a light in the bathroom, so it is easier to use at night.”
They did not go to toilet around their home. They would go to college compound, more than 350 meters from the house. Often they would have trouble getting to the compound. The Ecosan toilet is more useful. “The first container is almost full; we will complete it within a few weeks, and then start to use the other tank. My children, my wife and myself are very happy using it. It gives such a good change to our lives.”
A Muniyappan and wife, Pachaiyammal
“Before the Ecosan toilet we used to go to the toilet outside, such as on a path or open field. The Ecosan toilet has saved my wife, children and myself loads of difficulties, especially my wife. She felt very bad when she sat in the field and the men looked at her.”
Pachaiyammal says “the Ecosan toilet is more useful to my family. I want to thank the organization people who helped make this possible. This gives me more freedom. It makes me happy, because sometimes in the middle of the night I would have to go to the toilet. Going outside was more difficult and sometimes I was afraid. Now the Ecosan toilet is very safe, no fear. We put a light in the toilet room and a mirror in the bathroom.”
S Rani
“The Ecosan toilet is very useful for my family. One more thing that is provided is a bathroom. Before it was hard. I had to take a path and go to the toilet in public. Now I have a private toilet, without any of the bad feelings I had when I had to use the path.
My son is 14 years old. Before he went to the toilet in the open field. He complained to me, saying he saw a snake; his feet are damaged by a thorn, and problems like that. Sometimes I would want to go with him to make sure he was safe. So now we are very happy. My relatives, when they come to my village, use the Ecosan toilet. They used it, and it was easy and nice for us. Thank you very much for the Ecosan toilet.”
14. Borewells and water projects
In addition to Ecosan Toilets, Wherever the Need, working through Bless, funded improvements in the village water systems. This included repair and renovation of borewells and their hand pumps, and improvements of water outlets for the water that is pumped into the village.
As a result of this work, the village has more access to water, and due to the repaired hand pumps, has a reliable water source, even during extended power outages.
Ecosan Toilet Construction Photos
First the possible building site is reviewed and evaluated.
Work then starts on a foundation. Digging is the first step.
A stone and cement foundation is put in. It must be strong enough to bear the weight of the brick and concrete building to follow.
All materials are delivered to the building site on a bullock cart. Here stones are being delivered.
Red bricks from a local brick kiln are being delivered.
![clip_image002[4]](http://qualityoflifetrustecosan.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/clip-image0024.jpg)
The bottom layer with the two composting compartments is being built. The mason is the key skilled craftsman for a project like this. The walls must be straight and true, otherwise the building will collapse under its own weight.
![clip_image002[6]](http://qualityoflifetrustecosan.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/clip-image0026.jpg)
Steel reinforcing rods are being laid out for the floor. Note in the center is a space for the toilet pan.
The concrete for the floor is being put down. Red bricks are used as a space for the ceramic toilet pan to be installed later.
![clip_image002[8]](http://qualityoflifetrustecosan.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/clip-image0028.jpg)
The floor is heavily braced up until the concrete dries.
![clip_image002[10]](http://qualityoflifetrustecosan.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/clip-image00210.jpg)
The walls are almost complete. Cement brick is used for this part of the construction. This is lower in cost than a red brick alternative.
![clip_image002[12]](http://qualityoflifetrustecosan.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/clip-image00212.jpg)
Basic construction is done. Note the two chambers below, which are not yet sealed.
Painting is done.
As a last step, a ribbon cutting ceremony is done to open each toilet. For best village relations it was decided to ‘open’ each toilet with a small celebration involving the family. This is a happy moment for the family, and the beginning of a change in their day-to-day lives.
Towards the end of the project, the QLT team came up with a design that does not need a separate ceramic pan. Rather this is cast into the concrete. This saves cost.
A happy woman stands by her new Ecosan Toilet.
Near one of the first Toilets built, now a banana crop ripens. The fluid ‘waste’ from the toilet and shower water and fertilize these bananas. The resulting crop is a good one, a massive group of fruit, almost ripe now.
Summary
This project built toilets for 50 families that have never had them. Now about 200 people in this village no longer conduct their toilet functions outside, but rather use the new toilets. This is a big improvement in the health of the village, and it provides the women a kind of dignity that they have never had. This alone is an important step in the society of these rural Indian villagers.
