Page 23 - Procanvass

Noticing the effectiveness of pilot project, Government halt station to another before Warkaris reach next
of Maharashtra has taken an initiative under ‘Namami destination. Another challenge was transfer and
Chandrabhaga’ scheme to install portable public toilets processing of slurry collected through these toilets
at each halt on both ‘Palakhi’ routes. After multiple which includes solid waste, urine. Total slurry collected
follow up meetings with Government officials, Finance was 18,06,000 litres on Tukaram Maharaj Palakhi
minister and Chief minister of Maharashtra have route, 24,80,000 litres on Dnyaneshwar Maharaj
approved a funding of ₹ 2.04 crore for Nirmal Wari. Palakhi route and 18,00,000 litres at Pandharpur. For
processing slurry enzymes were used which degrade
the slurry upto 10%. To mitigate these risks, they
selected a supplier who can install minimum 3 sets of
toilets. All these need to be stationed at least 1 day prior
to wari reaching next destination. Lack of volunteers
may result in open defecation therefore Seva Sahayog
urges young, enthusiastic and dynamic volunteers to
increase their participation in such kind of projects.

After departure of Palakhi from a halt, disinfectants
were sprayed at each location due to which people of
those villages were not affected by any harmful odour.

Mr. Tukaram Kaloke, former Sarpanch of village Dehu
It was decided to provide toilets at each halt stations i.e. added, “During Wari period, villagers from Dehu left
at 15 stations on the route of ‘Tukaram Maharaj Palakhi’ their village for 15 days as there was unhygienic
and 17 stations on the route of ‘Dnyaneshwar Maharaj environment due to open defecation. But this time,
Palakhi’ including Pandharpur devasthan. Project when villagers returned post wari, the village was
includes 7 months of planning by core team along with totally clean. About 800 volunteers from Seva Sahayog
survey at 33 halt locations conducted by volunteers of Sangh and RSS were working under ‘Nirmal Wari’
Seva Sahayog Foundation. According to this project, Abhiyan.” Chief Minister of Maharashra, Mr. Devandra
500 toilet units were provided at each halt station on Fadnavis tweeted, “We have succeeded in ‘Nirmal Wari’
Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palakhi route and 300 toilet because of many steps taken by administration. My
units at Tukaram Maharaj Palakhi route and 1000 toilet heartfelt thanks to all who made it possible.”
units at Pandharpur temple premise. Care was taken
that toilets be at convenient locations with appropriate There are certain areas to be improved regarding this
light arrangements, adequate water supply and clean project which includes additional transport facilities of
slurry and better plan for slurry processing. For Slurry
up service. Training of volunteers and government staff
for actual deployment and maintenance of toilets was processing plants, the concept of Zero Discharge Toilets
done. Volunteers actively participated in this drive and (ZDT) can be used. ZDT makes use of urine diverting
toilets which helps in separating urine from faecal
requested Warkaris to use these toilets by creating
matter. Further urine can be treated to make fertilizers
awareness among them through ‘kirtans’, rangolis
about cleanliness and use of toilets. Warkaris also whereas faecal matter can be treated to make vermi-
supported the drive and gave successful response. This compost.
resulted in, 2016 Wari being called as a ‘Nirmal Wari’ Let all of us make our little contribution towards this
(Pure and Clean journey). project to fulfil our honourable Prime Minister Mr.

Project consists of 30% permanent toilets and 70% Narendra Modiji’s dream of “पहले शौचालय, फिर
temporary toilets. The major challenge for the देवालय” (First toilet, then temple) by chanting the verse
volunteers was to transfer temporary toilets from one of, “पाऊले चालती स्वच्छतेची वाट!!”

Aniket Bhosle & Mohini Jalekar
M.Tech. Project Management, VJTI
aniket.bhosalevjti18@gmail.com
mohini.jalekarvjti18@gmail.com
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