What is WASH Garage?

I have been writing all my bolgs under WASH Garage for last two months. The term WASH garage might sound little strange. WASH Garage is my dream project which I share with Mr Shrikanth Navrekar, Nirmal Gram Nirman Kendra, Nashik. We have a dream for a long time to set up a system  to transform rural sanitation into  a business model with aspiration, glamour and reaching ouy to all sections of the society with quality services.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There has been drastic paradigm shift in many spheres of life in rural India following globalization, liberalization and revolution in the telecommunications. One can easily find a mobile shop, an electronic gadget shop, repairing shops for television, DVD/CD players, motor cycles & even beauty parlours for men & women. But for constructing a simple toilet or repairing of hand pumps one has still to rely upon governmental machinery. Why can’t we imagine (& plan for) a shop equally attractive but catering to the very basic & essential needs of the community? It is very interesting to note that the global scenario in this respect is changing very fast. We should also take a note of this.

Some of the ways to overcome the bottlenecks in making sanitation program a success, are

1.                  To explore the economic potential of  rural water,sanitation and wastes management activities

2.                  To accord high social status to those engaged in sanitation sector with a view to attract youths towards sanitation by refurbishing the methods of dealing with wastes

3.                  To create a business model of sanitation activities at village level

WASH Garage:

This is a concept of one stop shop and at the same time a rural Laboratory to explore cost effective rural water and sanitation technologies. Apart from working as a shop for hard wares of water and sanitation facilities, students interested to build their career in the rural water and sanitation sector can do internship and explore their ideas. There would be no patenting and only focus on knowledge transfer.

Apart from the access to the hardwares of toilet, solid and liquid wastes and water supply systems and repairing tools this unique garage would also train semi-skilled masons for toilet construction, hand pump repairing, construction of soak pits/rural drains, smoke less chullah (Oven), cost effective water filters,etc.

Further to this, this garage would also help to develop social entrepreneurs around WASH by training school/college drop out rural youths who are interested to set up such garages in their respective places. WASH garage would also help to develop a business model for them, explore bank linkages and set up a chain of franchise in the form of alliances.

(Author is looking for a like-minded agency to support this cause. Author can be reached at: susdev.yusuf@gmail.com)