Fair showcases solutions for 'reinventing toilets'

Researchers from India and across the world today came together here to showcase new generation toilets that are safe, pocket-friendly and clean.
Some of the featured toilets included those which were not connected to water, sewerage lines or electricity as well as designs which are meant to improve the collection, treatment and disposal of human waste.
According to the data available, 2.5 billion people in the world do not have access to proper toilets.
"Effective and comprehensive sanitation seems an impossible dream for India. Yet today, we see a congruence of new and applicable science and technology, its affordability, and sustainable implementation," said Professor K Vijay Raghavan, Secretary in the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

Raghavan, who also chairs the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), spoke at, 'Reinvent the Toilet Challenge: India' fair here which saw participation by over 45 exhibitors from 15 nations.
The fair, which concluded at a city hotel today, was organised as part of a joint effort by DBT, Ministry of Science and Technology and BIRAC along with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to fund Indian researchers in developing innovative, safe and affordable sanitation technologies.

Six Indian innovators have been selected to contribute and develop sanitation solutions from a pool of 108 applications.
"By applying creative thinking and new approaches to sanitation challenges, we can improve people's lives. We have no doubt that these new partnerships with India and South Africa will help us achieve this," said Brian Arbogast, Director of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene team at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The programme is an India-specific one modelled on the Foundation's global 'Reinvent the Toilet Challenge'.