Research Sustainable Development Consortium organized India Toilet Summit 2014 at Chennai

Chennai, 19th November 2014: Signaling a big leap to the ‘Swatchh Bharath’ (Clean India) drive, RSDC (Research & Sustainable Development Consortium) has organized India Toilet Summit today at Hyatt Regency, Chennai.  
The summit brought together policy makers, researchers, Not-for-profits and corporate under a single forum to discuss, deliberate, exchange knowledge, share expertise & resources to realize the vision an open defecation free India. 
The event witnessed active participation of more than 150 representatives from Government, Corporate, NGO’s & academia committed to take forward this initiative through a continuous engagement process. 
India has the unfortunate distinction of being the capital of open defecation in the world. It is estimated that over 70 crores of Indians are resorting to open defecation. Sikkim is the only state in the country which is declared as Open Defecation Free State. Open defecation is responsible for high infant mortality rate, children with stunted growth, serious health problems to women and causes diseases like diarrhea, polio, jaundice, cholera, typhoid etc.
Recounting his decade long experience in the sanitation sector Vai. Kumar, Chairman of RSDC says “ignorance is the primary among other factors like lack of drive & least priority accorded for having toilets at home and unaware of affordable toilet technology options which has resulted in the dismal performance of our country in the global sanitation index.” He further states that “our focus should be more on bringing an attitudinal change towards household toilets through intensive & continuous campaign besides policy change, financial support & subsidies. This mammoth challenge has opened opportunities for greater collaboration between Government, Corporates & NGO’s hence the event is aptly themed as Open defecation free India – Opportunities & Challenges.” 
Leveraging the impetus created nationally by Hon. Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi envisioning ‘Swachh Bharath’, RSDC along with like-minded organizations has planned this event to scale-up & accelerate impact.

The speakers of the event includes Tmt Santha Sheela Nair IAS (Retd), Vice Chairperson, State Planning Commission, Tamilnadu; Mr. Vinod Mishra, National Co-ordinator, WSSCC India; Mr. Rajendra Ratnoo IAS, Director of Town Panchayat, Tamilnadu; Shri.Rajasimha, Technical Advisor, Commissioner of Bangalore City.  The efforts of corporates in driving community sanitation through their social responsibility initiatives (CSR) were recognized. Tmt Santha Sheela Nair honored L&T, Dalmia Cements, Hyundai, MARG Karaikal Port & Suzlon for their commendable work in the sanitation space.The Summit culminated with a commitment from all stakeholder concerned for a continuous dialogue & engagement. RSDC would pursue the momentum created, through training platforms, building Government-Industry-NGO collaboration, developing best practices and policy research.