¡®With Targeted Interventions, People With Reduced Mobility Can Live Active, Safe, And Dignified Lives¡¯

'Many Indians live with reduced mobility or physical disability of some kind. People with reduced mobility have special needs. Improving access to sanitation for them is a basic service that we must provide to improve their quality of life. In an interview, Ms. Sminu Jindal, Founder - Chairperson of Svayam and Managing Director of Jindal SAW Ltd, talks about the unique challenges that persons with disability face in accessing basic services like safe sanitation, and how targeted interventions can address felt needs of people with reduced mobility.

Q.1 India has worked towards achieving inclusion with dignity for persons with disability. In the area of sanitation also, our country has implemented some important projects. How is your organization helping in this journey.

Svayam's journey started with a fundamental goal: advocating for the dignity and accessibility of individuals with reduced mobility. This included not only those with disabilities but also senior citizens, children, pregnant women, mothers with infants, etc. Personally experiencing mobility challenges since the age of 11, I made it as my life's mission to work towards a world where infrastructure and transportation cater to everyone's needs. For 23 years, Svayam has worked hand in hand with the Government and private organisations on various fronts. This includes conducting sensitization workshops at Delhi International Airport, ensuring Delhi Metro is accessible, and conducting accessibility audits at iconic sites like the Supreme Court of India, Qutub Minar and Red Fort in Delhi, and the Fatehpur Sikri Group of Monuments in Agra, including The Taj. Our Accessible Family Toilet (AFT) project was a significant milestone, impacting over approximately 1.50 crore lives in rural India, focusing on inclusive and accessible sanitation. In this journey we have realised that mindset change is the first step towards bringing any change in our society and for that awareness is important.

Q.2 What is the need-gap for driving inclusion of people with disabilities? What are the steps required to address this gap?

We initiated Accessible Family Toilet (AFT) project to drive awareness at the grassroot level and provide a dignified life to people with reduced mobility. In our need assessment survey, we discovered that 76% rural people are struggling to access basic sanitation facilities. We analysed the needs and preferences of people with reduced mobility and mapped the availability, accessibility, and affordability of toilet products. With our implementation agency Foundation for Accessible Aquanir and Sanitation (FAAS) (the Indian arm of water.org), Svayam educated almost 24,500 Self Help Groups (SHGs), Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) on accessible toilets and its benefits. The initial receptiveness by people really encouraged us to further expand the project. Additionally, need assessment even helped us guide families with limited savings towards micro-finance institutions that provided sanitation loans. Our need-gap assessment was a step towards understanding that rural India is very receptive to change and are eager to improve their quality of living. All it needs is the right education and guidance that will enable them to become well-informed of their needs and rights in the country. Therefore, after the success of this project in over 14 states in India, we have now partnered with National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC) Foundation to expand it across 7 more northern states of India. In Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh, we also conducted a training for plumbers and masons to construct accessible toilets. Additionally, village-wide survey is also underway by the NHFDC Foundation and impressively, over 70% of the families taking the survey have expressed keen interest in obtaining loans to upgrade their toilets.

Q.3 What impact has this project witnessed in the 14 states and is Svayam launching a second pillar to cover the entire nation? What improvements can we expect to see in Accessible Family Toilet Project 2.0?

Our project aimed to bring awareness and dignity to individuals with reduced mobility, addressing the struggles faced by people of rural India in accessing basic sanitation. Through our initiative, we've reached over approximately 1.50 crore individuals, empowering them with knowledge, and training over 1554 local workers in constructing accessible toilets. The impact has been substantial, with over 1008 families availing loans totalling almost INR 3 Crore for constructing accessible toilets in their homes. Our partners like self-help groups or micro finance institutions were instrumental in driving this project at the grassroots level at the community level. Ultimately, any awareness driven project is a community driven project. What makes it most impactful is the readiness of rural India for a change to enhance their quality of life. Now, with NHFDC Foundation, we're expanding our reach and began in Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh by training professionals in constructing accessible toilets and a village-wide survey is also underway. AFT 2.0 is designed to cover more regions and states, advocating 'Accessibility for All' across the nation. It¡¯s not about focusing on a single state or district; our aim is to make India accessible.

Q.4 What assistance is required from the state and central government authorities to make every corner of India accessible for individuals with reduced mobility?

The Government's continuous support has been invaluable. We were an empanelled access auditor under the Accessible India Campaign or Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan by Govt of India. Svayam was also Member of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Committee on the National Building Code of India 2016. As a part of the Ministry of Urban Development¡¯s Core Committee, Harmonised Guidelines & Space Standards for Barrier Free Built Environment for Persons with Disabilities & Elderly Persons were launched. Continued support will help us reach every corner of the country, enabling people with reduced mobility to live active, safe, and dignified lives. Our request to both state and central Government authorities is to prioritize inclusive infrastructure and transportation. This can be achieved through adopting universal design principles, investing in accessibility, ensuring public spaces are catering to everyone's needs, raising awareness, and rigorously enforcing existing standards. It is our collective responsibility to eliminate barriers and create an environment where individuals with reduced mobility can participate fully in all facets of life. We believe that through collaborative efforts and a commitment to inclusivity, we can build a nation that truly leaves no one behind.