Free Essays for Competitive Exams-E-Toilets from Kerala in Jammu and Kashmir

E-Toilets from Kerala in Jammu and Kashmir

Kerala's own electronic toilets (e-toilets), one of the prominent innovations of the state in public health, hygiene and sanitation sector, would now be seen featured at the scenic an snow covered valleys of Jammu and Kashmir also.

Developed by Eram Scientific Solutions, the Thiruvananthapuram based scientific R&D firm, the e-toilets for Jammu & Kashmir region has been customized as per the region's own geographical and sub-zero climatic conditions in response to J&Ks tourism departments request for setting up e-Toilets in the State. The e-Toilets would be set up at Affarwat and Gulmarg.  Affarwat is one of the world's highest locations which uses cable car using gondolas at a height of over 4000 ft above sea level and the only one location in the world that takes skiers to a height of 4,390 metres.

In addition to the e-toilets, specifically designed STPs (Sewage Treatment Plants) would also be set up at DalLake to address its waste treatment woes. A 2.5 ton container loaded with the e-toilet and STP components would be leaving from Thiruvananthapuram to Jammu and Kashmir. Eram Scientific has designed customized e-toilets which can function in sub-zero temperatures, even at -55^o. In order to function at this sort of extreme cold temperatures, military grade equipments have been used in the customized e-toilet model. Eram Scientific has successfully implemented over 400 e-toilets in various parts of the country.

The e-toilets are designed on the lines of the Australian National Public Toilet Map.  The user, could view the toilet map via the Internet or the cell phone, select the nearest toilet station, set a parking space, make payment, view the timings and get other details on allied facilities.

The company has entered into an association with the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore for further research and development of e-toilets.

The collaborative work will focus on structural analysis and design verification of these toilets.

Need for a Sustainable Intervention in Sanitation sector

Urban and Semi Urban areas -These areas face severe problems with respect to standard public toilets, cleanliness and better sanitation amenities in particular. The cities and towns being overpopulated pose severe health hazards arising due to unhygienic conventional sanitation methods being followed in these areas. The introduction of the proposed sanitation system would radically change the plight of the existing toilets and public sanitation system in place.

Social Relevance - Unhygienic sanitation cause infection and related diseases especially in women and children. The level of privacy, dignity and safety for women can be rendered in the best possible manner by installing Electronic Public Toilets in all possible public locations.

Unhygienic Tourist Spots - Tourism is also facing the ill-effects of the deplorable sanitation conditions in the country. Several tourist spots and connecting roads are a pity to the country and are causing discomfort for the tourists. Chances of getting infected with severe communicable diseases in the Indian streets do create doubts for the tourists in choosing it as their destination.

eToilet, India’s First Electronic Public Toilet

Through this unique product, the company has attempted to address the inherent challenges of public sanitation. In a perfect situation, a public toilet should have the capabilities to address waste management, effective water usage and sustainability as core challenges among various other issues. eToilet is positioned as the perfect solution which addresses all these effectively; it is cost effective, appropriate and suitable for the geographic and demographic patterns of any location. It is working on a mission to have all Indian Cities with modern sterilized public sanitation system. To further improve Urban Sanitation Infrastructure, such projects with huge social relevance are inevitable.  

The Innovation

The idea was to develop an eco-friendly public sanitation system for the Indian sub-continent based on a novel convergence of electronic, mobile, web and bio technologies, for serving as an affordable, sustainable and effective public toilet service in India.  eToilet is positioned as the ultimate solution to ensure public toilets across the country are maintained hygienically, with the minimum of manual intervention, and substantial energy and water savings as well. The e-Toilet works on total auto mode: The insertion of a coin opens the door for the user, switches on the light - thus saving energy - and even directs the user with audio commands. The toilets are programmed to flush 1.5 liters of water if the user takes up to 3 minutes, and 4.5 liters of water if the usage is longer. They can also be programmed to clean the platform after every 5 or 10 persons use the toilet. The e-Toilet is the result of a convergence of electronics, web and mobile technologies, featuring automated door opening, power flushing, automatic closet washing and sterilization, and automatic platform cleaning mechanism, all backed by SMS alerts to inform the control room about the status of water tank and bio gas plant in the event of any errors or failures through which the downtime can be minimized. The solid and liquid wastes are treated scientifically. A bio-membrane reactor is used to treat solid wastes and the water used is purified for reuse. The uniqueness of the solution lies in the built-in electronic innovations that will facilitate self cleaning of the toilets with minimum water usage, and treatment of solid waste and water with an environment friendly sewage treatment solution. 

Highlights of the Project

As on date, appropriate and cost effective technology is not used anywhere in India in the sanitation sector – eToilet is a model that is a hybrid one, synergizing technologies in Electronics, Mechanical, Information Technology, etc., for a very cost effective  and modular design.

 Automatic un-manned toilet (Wet type) is an innovation in India; it is especially important as the unit has the capabilities for self washing and sterilization. Sterilization will be helpful in containing serious communicable diseases.

Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for the management of the unit incorporating GPRS facilities.

   eToilet also incorporates a unique advertisement revenue model which ensures the unit’s sustainability and adds to its ambience. The ad panels offer manifold revenue opportunities as this is a highly lucrative model especially in metros and several public locations. Also the units have the capability of adopting high-tech advertisement displays such as revolving ads which adds to its aesthetics and sustainability. This sustainability model is highly relevant in a tourist spot, where employment opportunities can be created and extra cleanliness can be ensured, with the income thus generated.

eToilet covers all the three aspects of quality of life, efficiency and environment protection. eToilet is aimed at improving the quality of life of the public; i.e. the wellness of the people by providing clean, hygienic state-of-the-art sanitation facilities which overrides the traditional public toilets. Though the unit is fully automated, it does not create any kind of usage barrier to the normal user. Efficiency is brought into practice through its unique futuristic approach woven with an intention to preserve our precious resources such as water, electricity and managing waste through effective and efficient sewage treatment techniques. It is also a cost-effective mechanism to ensure proper public sanitation facility in highly populated regions. The average life of a unit is estimated to be around 7-10 years and thus it offers durability. Also the deployment of such units will provide employment opportunities for many. This will help many people to earn their livelihood. Environment is protected through eToilet’s Green technology focus and is all set to emerge with a matchless ‘green model’ through a linkage with Indian Institute of Science.

400+ units of e-Toilet are installed in various locations of our country. The commercial production of the same started during the first quarter of 2010 to provide world class sanitation facility for tourists.  Eram has installed e-toilets in various parts of Kerala and Greater Noida.  Another 300 is under implementation and will be operational within next two months.  Each system is used by an average of 130 peoples per day.  The company has now entered into technology transfer agreement with South Africa and marketing arrangement with Nigeria and Botswana.

High Impact Projects

eToilet is now evolving as a sustainable project for providing clean and hygienic urban infrastructure. Various Government Departments in Kerala have been implementing large scale projects for providing sustainable technology based urban sanitation projects.

  The Women’s’ Development Corporation of Government of Kerala is setting up over 200 eToilets christened as she-toilet for women.

 Public Works Department is setting up Eve’s own eToilet across the stretch of its highways in Kerala.

  Kerala Tourism Department plans to set up eToilet network along its premium tourist destinations.

  Eram is also setting up Highway amenity centers for tourists in over 30 destinations in Kerala.

Pathanamthitta District in Kerala is India’s first District with a connected eToilet Infrastructure (CeTI) where the locations of toilets and their operational status can be viewed over a web based map.  This is more useful to a tourist who travels with their families.  Connected e-Toilets would communicate over a GPRS system and they are accessible over a mobile or internet for locating them.  The e-Toilets can provide information about its working status, whether for male or female, whether changing stations for babies are available and other facilities and the distance from the location specified can be provided.

The company has recently won a whopping grant of over $ 4,50,000 from the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation to set up eco friendly and hygienic e-Toilets making public conveniences more accessible to the urban poor. The prototyped e-toilet was developed under Technopreneur promotion programme (Tepp) of Department of Scientific and Industrial Research of Government of India by Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram promoted by Government of Kerala. The innovation got grant in aid from Government of India for the prototype development and after completing the working models, this technology has been transferred to Eram Scientific Solutions for comercialising the technology.