DRDO to set up Bio-Digester toilets across Panchayats

New Delhi: The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has recently signed a MoU with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to set up Bio-Digester toilets across Panchayats in the country. 

The Bio-Digester technology developed by DRDO is a non-polluting and effective method that degrades and converts the human waste into usable water and gasses in an eco-friendly manner. The generated gas can be utilized for energy/ cooking and water for irrigation purposes. Bio-Digester has been designed in a manner that it can be customized to suit the requirements of the region and demography; also it does not require much of maintenance and decomposes the human waste completely without leaving any pathogens.

Speaking at the occasion, Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Rural Development, Drinking Water and Sanitation, shared his vision to structure a Program with the intent of creating model villages that employ innovative technologies like “Bio-Digester” to achieve civic hygiene by converting the Panchayats into “Nirmal Panchayats”. Of the 2.4 lakh Gram Panchayats present in the country, only a dismal number of Panchayats have sanitation facilities which calls forth for a “Sanitation Revolution” in India.

FICCI has played a pivotal in bringing together the two government departments for the total sanitation mission. On June 24, 2012, FICCI launched the DRDO’s Bio-Digester based toilets in Dhamra, Odisha under the joint flagship of “DRDO-FICCI ATAC Programme”. As a part of this launch, 6 twin bio-digester based toilets were constructed on the 5 identified sites along the Jhamjhadi -Dhamra 90 Km stretch- the stretch which leads to the Chandipur Station from where the Agni missiles are launched. After the launch of Bio-digester in Dhamra, Odisha; Jairam Ramesh announced that the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation will sign a MoU with the DRDO to set up Bio-Digester toilets across the Panchayats in the country.
 

Welcoming the gathering, Dr. S. Sundaresh, DS & CC R&D (ACE &SI) said, “The association between DRDO and FICCI has reached another milestone with the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation adopting the Bio-digester technology for implementing in Gram Panchayats across the country”.

Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Secretary General FICCI stated, “We believe that implementation of the bio-digester technology at the gram panchayat level across the country is a remarkable example of government to government partnership. I am proud to state that FICCI has been instrumental in bringing the two ministries together to work towards the total sanitation mission. This is a unique partnership wherein a technology developed by DRDO has been adopted by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation for the benefit at large.”

Sharing his vision, A. K. Antony, Ministry of Defence, said,  “Bio-digester is an Indian solution to a global problem. A solution that was developed by DRDO Scientists from DRDE, Gwalior and Defence Lab Tezpur, initially for soldiers posted at high altitude areas will now solve a major societal problem across the country and is all set to become an affordable solution for the “Aam Admi” not just for India but for the entire world.”