SUCHITA
WHAT MADE US TO THINK ABOUT SUCHITA
Be & Make has been working on child education in eight villages in Malda and Birbhum districts for the past three years. Out of these villages, six are entirely inhabited by indigenous communities. Some of these villages completely lack toilet infrastructure, while others have incomplete or unusable structures which can not be used as functional toilets. As a result, open defecation is a persistent issue. B&M has observed that the absence of toilets leads to children frequently falling ill and missing school. The situation became more dire when a Class 5 student died from a snake bite while using the bushes for defecation.
HOW FAR WE CAME ACROSS
Through discussions with the community, it was agreed that they would take responsibility for maintaining the toilet, prioritizing safety, dignity, and respect. B&M has consulted with its engineering team to create a preliminary design and estimate costs. The hope is that constructing at least one community toilet per village will improve overall health, reduce disease prevalence, and increase school attendance among children.
Existing Infrastructure Design Drawing Infrastructure plan
Community Toilet Need Assessment Survey
Final Infrastructure Plan
(Click to Zoom to Zoom in)
VILLAGE SANITATION BUDGET
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Cost per unit of suchita , including 5 toilet blocks and two shower areas = 4,00,000/-
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Land - Donated by villagers
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Need for toilets - 6 units, 2 in Birbhum and 4 in Malda Dist
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Beneficiary = Tribal communities and students of Sopan