NEWS in brief
Eco-friendly toilets in India to improve health and
dignity of the poor
Banka BioLoo, an
Indian company
that provides
innovative solutions
for human waste
treatment, has joined
the Business Call
to Action (BCtA)
in distributing
environmentallyfriendly toilets to
low-income families
across India. BCtA
is a global initiative
that encourages
companies to fight
poverty through
... diarrhea kills approximately
inclusive business
800,000 children under age five
models. It is
every year and leaves millions more
supported by the
malnourished and stunted. The absence
United Nations
of sanitation is ..
Development
Programme (UNDP) and other international organizations.
Banka BioLoo’s plans to install 300,000 innovative
sanitation systems, or bioloos, across the country by 2020.
Bioloos will also be installed in 3,000 schools, reaching
an additional 120,000 girls. The company estimates that
94,000 temporary jobs will be created as a result of this
expansion.
“Banka BioLoo is committed to environmental
sustainability and social uplift by providing affordable
and sustainable solutions for sanitation across India,” said
Sanjay Banka, Banka BioLoo’s Chief Executive Officer.
“By providing eco-friendly bio-toilets, we are helping
to meet the new Sustainable Development Goals while
supporting the Indian Government’s vision of a cleaner,
healthier society. We are pleased to have our business
model recognized by the Business Call to Action and look
forward to working with fellow members to advance the
new global development agenda.”
The shortage of toilets and proper sanitation in India is
still a major concern. Nearly 600 million people – half
of the country’s population – lack access to adequate
sanitation, which increases the risk of water contamination
and diseases. According to the World Bank, diarrhea kills
approximately 800,000 children under age five every year
and leaves millions more malnourished and stunted. The
absence of sanitation is especially acute in rural and periurban areas with its higher than average population density
and lack of access to water and sewage infrastructure.
Bioloos provide an inexpensive and easy-to-operate
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alternative for traditional