As World Toilet Day approached on November 19, this year’s theme, “Toilet – A Place for Peace,” offered a fresh perspective on an essential aspect of our daily lives that often goes unappreciated: sanitation. Toilets are more than functional infrastructure, they symbolise dignity, safety, and health. Reliable sanitation is still a distant dream for millions of Indians. In recent years, India has taken amazing steps with Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, but significant challenges remain in ensuring sanitation is accessible, hygienic, and environmentally friendly for all.
In many Indian households, inadequate sanitation facilities, combined with outdated septic tank systems, pose severe health and environmental risks. Rural and urban households frequently rely on poorly built or maintained toilets and septic tanks, which, rather than improving health, expose them to deadly diseases and environmental contamination. The tanks, if remain unclean and out of maintenance give a higher chance for toxic waste to escape into the surrounding soil leading it towards groundwater levels and resulting in waterborne diseases, contaminated water supplies, and unhygienic conditions that deprive communities of peace and safety.
The Hidden Menace of Septic Tanks
Across India, millions of people rely on septic tanks that do not meet the standards required for sustainable waste disposal. These tanks are designed for temporary storage of waste rather than a long-term solution for disposal. The unaware crowd doesn’t take this hazard seriously, keeping the tanks unmonitored and left unmaintained which later results in contamination of surrounding land and water due to the presence of coliform bacteria. This contamination further burdens the local communities which are already struggling with water scarcity and pollution. The World Health Organization has associated unsafe sanitation with waterborne illnesses like cholera and diarrhea, which claim many lives across the country pointing out safe sanitation as a major concern. This situation demands a systemic change, not only in how toilets are built but in how we manage waste.
Addressing sanitation challenges calls for more than building additional toilets; it requires safe, sustainable waste disposal systems to replace or improve upon the traditional septic tank. Among the available innovations, biodigester technology offers one of the most promising solutions for India’s sanitation crisis.
Biodigesters: A Peaceful Solution by DRDO
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developed the Biodigester, a novel sanitation technology that perfectly aligns with this year’s World Toilet Day theme. It was originally created to manage garbage in high-altitude areas such as the Himalayas, using an anaerobic bacterial process to convert waste into methane gas and water. With this breakthrough, DRDO not only reduced waste volume but also eliminated the need for traditional septic tanks, resulting in a sustainable, closed system that meets both environmental and public health objectives.
Biodigesters have been designed for low maintenance and function as closed systems reducing the contamination risk in the surroundings, unlike the traditional septic tanks which require frequent maintenance and cleaning. Moreover, the methane gas generated in this process can be captured and used as biofuel for household cooking, thereby contributing to cleaner energy. By eliminating human contact with untreated waste and generating renewable energy, the biodigester brings both sanitation and peace to the household.
Biodigesters are especially beneficial where access to sewerage management infrastructure is limited. This technology provides a sustainable alternative that can transform sanitation standards, prevent groundwater contamination, and ultimately bring dignity and peace to millions of Indian households.
The Role of Awareness and Education in Sustainable Sanitation
The widespread adoption of biodigesters requires significant public awareness and education. Many households still rely on traditional septic tanks due to ignorance of alternatives. Educational initiatives help people understand health risks and environmental harm from improperly maintained systems. Public awareness campaigns can highlight the peace and security of sustainable sanitation, reduce disease incidence, and protect water sources. In communities where awareness campaigns are implemented, sanitation standards have improved. These campaigns empower individuals to make informed choices, transforming the concept of a toilet from a functional necessity into a space of dignity, health, and peace.
Policy Support for Long-Term Sanitation Solutions
India needs comprehensive sanitation support from all levels of government, including policymakers and local administrations. Subsidies should be created to make sustainable sanitation solutions more affordable, encouraging eco-friendly waste management practices.
Government-backed programs should invest in robust infrastructure for safe waste disposal. Enforcement of sanitation laws and regulations, including inspections of septic tanks and education on safe practices, is crucial for reducing groundwater contamination and promoting healthier living conditions.
It is encouraging to see that the Goa State Pollution Control Board has taken the initiative to promote public knowledge about biodigesters by emphasising their numerous benefits to customers in the guideline handbook. The booklet also includes a detailed discussion of their working characteristics and the criteria for their implementation.
World Toilet Day: Reflecting on Toilets as Places of Peace
World Toilet Day highlights the importance of toilets in maintaining peace and dignity within communities. Sanitation impacts public health, environmental stability, and overall quality of life. To achieve universal sanitation in India, it is crucial to ensure clean, well-maintained, and sustainable facilities. Initiatives like DRDO’s biodigesters are promising, but achieving universal sanitation requires collective efforts from individuals, communities, and the government.
World Toilet Day is not just about discussing sanitation, but also a call to action to build a future where every Indian household has access to a functional toilet that is a source of dignity and safety.