If you're like many people in today's hyper-sanitary settlements in the privileged world, you might never have a serious conversation about sanitation. But that's not an option in the booming cities of India.

Starting in one of the most intense urban areas on earth, Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak 30 years ago set out to design a simple, safe, and (above all) affordable answer to the problem. In 1970, Bangladesh was suffering the twin catastrophes of hyperbolic population growth and dysfunctional colonial disengagement. There were only two accepted options for sewage management: large-scale industrial sewer works or septic tank systems. Neither approach was appropriate, so nothing was being done. And the lowest members of society bore the full brunt of the unimaginable burden.

Aftter three decades of quiet, persistent effort, the Sulabh story is blossoming:

So far, more than 700,000 units have been constructed or substituted for existing latrines in houses and more than 3000 have been installed as pay-and-use public toilets. The latter are staffed by full time attendant and provide facilities including soap powder for washing hands, for bathing and for laundry and offer free services to children, disabled and poor. Thus, nearly 10 million people have been provided with improved, low cost sanitation and at the same time nearly 50,000 employment opportunities have been created in a commercially viable enterprise. As a social spin-off the enterprise has resulted in liberating about 50,000 scavengers from their enforced profession.

 (see more at http://www.sulabhinternational.org)