IIHMR University Constructs 45000 sanitation units, 90,000 women directly benefitted from Different Projects
Celebrates World Women's Day
Editor's Synopsis:
Designated as National Key Resource Centre (KRC) - Sanitation, from Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation Government of India 2014
Created and implemented a model for toilets in 370 villages creating awareness on privacy of girls and women through separate sanitation facilities
IIHMR University provided technical assistance & constructed over more than 45000 sanitation units - benefitted 90,000 women directly from different projects
Being implemented by a sister concern of IIHMR and aimed to uplift the livelihood of rural BPL women, empowered over 10,000 women through MPOWER project.
Jaipur, 7th March, 2016: Gender parity has always been a key point of discussion. The first step is to liberate women by providing them privacy and sanitation facilities that help them feel safe and empowers them to materialize their ambitions. IIHMR University, one of the globally recognized and leading healthcare research institutions of the country has provided technical expertise in various sanitation and livelihood projects across the state of Rajasthan and has played a major role in providing separate sanitation facilities and empowering women and girls in over 370 villages. To voice the honorable Prime Minister's motive to construct over 6.84 crore toilets, under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, The IIHMR University this World Women's Day shares its contributions and insights on privacy for women, need for proper sanitation facilities alongwith facilitating empowerment through livelihood projects.
Dr. S.D Gupta, President, IIHMR University said, "Post the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, Rajasthan is now in the list of top 3 states achieving 20.40% toilet coverage apart from Manipur (14.05%) and Meghalaya (14.59%) (Data as per budgetary provisions, multiple cess options, World Bank). According to UNICEF India, 73% people in rural Rajasthan including women, live in an environment of open defecation; thereby risk their lives to illness, death from diarrhoea and other diseases which are transmitted by faecal-oral route. The situation is worse when one observes the southern parts of Rajasthan where 90% population including women, defecate in the open. It is observed that women feel insecure and find it difficult to defecate in the open. The IIHMR University has provided technical assistance in various projects and has contributed in building sanitation facilities for women. IIHMR University till date has constructed over 45000 toilets providing sanitation facilities to over 90,000 women of over 370 villages till date in the state of Rajasthan."
The IIHMR University has also worked towards the upliftment of the lives of rural women by providing technical assistance to Bhoruka Charitable Trust (implementer and a sister concern of the IIHMR University) for all the projects mentioned.
Dr. Goutam Sadhu, Dean, School of Rural Management at IIHMR University said, "The IIHMR University helped building technical capacity of Bhoruka Charitable Trust (a sister concern of IIHMR University) towards better delivery of Women Empowerment project entitled Mitigating Poverty in Western Rajasthan (MPOWER). The MPOWER project in Baitu, Barmer is a poverty reduction initiative, supported by IFAD, SRTT & Govt. of Rajasthan and is being implemented in 10 Gram Panchayats covering 66 villages of Baitu block in Barmer. The project provides secure livelihoods, and enhanced income for 5387 poor rural women, who belong to the BPL families thereby inculcating entrepreneurial capabilities. The project also aims to assist these women in financial literacy and empower them to take single handed decisions such as opening and managing their own bank accounts. About 370 Self Help Groups (SHGs) were formed for this project. The MPOWER project is also being implemented in Sankara, Jaisalmer covering 20 GP's including 119 villages where 5623 women belonging to BPL families are positively affected. MPOWER project is implemented to create employment opportunities for a sustainable livelihood and empower women.
Embarking upon this noble cause of enhancing dignity and respect of women and girls, IIHMR University, has provided technical assistance worked in collaboration with various corporate houses, trusts and foundations to come forward and join hands in realizing the dreams of the women. The role of IIHMR has also majorly been in capacity building, integrated water supply, sanitation and health and educating about the various programmes.
IIHMR University has a vast experience of managing water and sanitation projects. It has implemented the prestigious AAPNI YOJNA in partnership with state government to provide regular supply of safe drinking water in 370 villages, installed sanitary units in rural households and 282 schools in the villages of Churu and Hanumangarh districts of Rajasthan. For its contribution in the area of safe drinking water and sanitation, the Government of India designated IIHMR University as National Key Resource Centre, especially for capacity building and implementation of WASH program and activities.