Dear Elizabeth.

Addressing the answer to have COD..ie Controlled Open Defecation in communities.

As requested. on information on communities opted for COD..etc.

I cite an example by Delhi Ngo CURE..

Just to give you a background.

Next to the Taj at Agra, there is a drain adjacent to the monument on the eastern side of The Taj.

This drain is named as Taj East drain. It passes through a distance of 5 km having 15 odd habitats -basthis, till it meets R. Yamuna nearer to The Taj.

Experiences in period 1980-1990: A community 100HH 500px (+) around were displaced from a distant area at Agra Municipal areas. Name of HH pocket .. Natha Nagar Basthi . These habitations settled on "kutcha houses " close to the proximity of Taj Reserve Forest and the main monument complex, on TED n bank. It was termed an ecologically-sensitive area.

In period 1990-2000: At this location, initially the community were habitating in self made hutments and with minimal livelihood . An area was allocated for carrying out Open Defecation nearer to the habitat- complex, but in an organised manner as the area was next to Taj Reserve Forest Zone and being a sensitive area.

It appears as the region being nearer to the world reknown Taj and its importance, because of visitors coming from world wide places etc. Local Admin desired certain cleaner system of OD, to be followed.

Here an adapted and controlled version of Open Defecation was followed with community seniors generally managing and organised the same.

You have cited an Example of Emergency Sanitation: This appears on similar mode , an example of Emergency Sanitation faciity which has been described.

The arrangement followed then by the Community could have been similar to the Emergency Sanitation shown done on containerised toilets.

In the ensuing period 2000-2010: An organised colony was formed. Ngo CURE facilitated the implementation of houses. with CTC toilets and water stand pipes etc with RWH, WWT plants and others.

This arrangement as done at Taj East Drain area is made possible, at open areas. then a lot of sanitation problems was solved upon this OD -adaptation.

I would assess and get CURE Ngo to pass on the specific data as experienced by them .

Community ww and Dewats plant on the drain channel at another location on the other bank of The Taj. was also done at an area called Kutchpura off Mehtabh Bagh.Agra.

With well wishes and best regards,

Prof Ajit Seshadri. Vels University. Chennai .

Senior Project Co ordinator. Mr. David Alan NGO Sanitation First. Puducherry.

I am appreciative of your efforts in your communities.

In my earlier posts on SUSANA Forum I have mentioned about a mode termed as COD - Controlled Open Defecation.

This is very similar to OD but only that it is a bit controlled and all waste accumulations are used as resource.

A suitable space is allocated, near around where communities generally resort to OD . In this space.having privacy easecof waste consolidation.stand pipe-tap for water may be with lights too is arranged.

Some security/ care taker from the community takes care of the open- facility.. made for men.. separate for women and children etc.. This C-OD ie controlled open defecation practice is carried out for say 3 to 4 weeks.. Then it is changed over to a nearby facility of similar area/space with same facilities..for men and women.

In this interim period of a month. the spaces are cleaned, maintained and improved upon on facities similar to Toilet complexes.. Also sludges are removed and co composted with cow dung.."gobar" and bio mass etc..

Community is motivated to use this as a resource- manure for farms. or may be taken up for common area development parks trees etc.. This manure is to be treated as a by-product.. aiding veg-agri farms etc

Once community gets into this habit of using these spaces.. in the next stage say after a year.. it can be officialised and organise toilets with facilities.. drain lines lights etc..

Separate SHGs are formed for each function ideally.. Regarding funds..approach friendly Corporates as a CSR initiative ..

This will be towards achieving the National objective for SBM compliance on ODF directive .. and towards UN SDGs directives.

The Ngo is well organised and having accomplished all important tasks in respective communities. it is felt that the above prospect suggested pilot-project is easily do able with steady efforts ..

The above notings are issued for doing Social and Environmental good in communities.

With best wishes.

Prof Ajit Seshadri. Vels University. Chennai .