Let’s Talk Toilets: The Missing Link to Women’s Freedom | Manish Kelshikar | TEDxIIMAhmedabad

Key Concepts:

• Ripple effects of actions related to sanitation
• Women's safety and access to hygienic washrooms
• Social and financial dignity of sanitation workers (janitors)
• Technology-driven solutions for toilet hygiene and accessibility
• Hygiene Quotient (HQ) as a measure of toilet cleanliness
• Certification program for hygienic toilets (similar to Michelin star)
• Gig economy model for sanitation workers
• Shoplet: A retail model integrating public toilets
• Corporate Sanitation Responsibility (CSR redefined)
• Powder Rooms: Certified, accessible washrooms for women

1. The Problem: Lack of Safe and Hygienic Washrooms for Women

• The speaker and his wife, previously "global fashionistas," were prompted by their daughter's question about women's safety and access to washrooms in India to re-evaluate their priorities.
• The speaker highlights the challenges women face due to the lack of safe and hygienic washrooms, citing examples:
  • Ria, 6, restricted from drinking water while traveling.
  • Savvita, 15, dropping out of school due to lack of washroom facilities after puberty.
  • Puja, 22, potentially unable to pursue a career involving travel due to the same issue.
• The core issue is identified as the lack of accessible, safe, and hygienic toilets, described as a "3 ft by 3 ft place."
• Despite toilets being the "most frequented place in human life," the availability of safe and hygienic washrooms is not adequately addressed.
• The impact of this issue extends to industries like travel, tourism, health, and education.

2. Analyzing the Root Cause: Janitors and Accountability

• The speaker points out the tendency to blame janitors for poor toilet maintenance.
• However, the analysis reveals that "toilets are out of order because the janitor is out of society."
• There is a lack of social and financial dignity for janitors, with low wages (around $150 or 12,000 rupees a month) for cleaning public spaces.
• The speaker contrasts this with the fact that "world over the most difficult job is paid the highest."
• The lack of ownership and accountability for public toilets is highlighted as a key factor.
• The speaker shares a personal anecdote about a junior team member refusing to come to India due to the lack of available toilets.

3. Technology as a Solution: Hygiene Quotient and Certification

• The speaker emphasizes the potential of technology to solve the problem of shared sanitation.
• The first step was to create a quantifiable measure of toilet cleanliness: the Hygiene Quotient (HQ).
• HQ is similar to a CIBIL score, providing a number that reflects the hygiene level of a toilet.
• The "Vahal Assurance of Hygiene" concept uses technology and algorithms to allow anyone to report a toilet, generating an HQ score.
• Over half a million toilets have been reported, enabling connection with custodians for maintenance.
• A certification program, likened to a "Michelin star of toilet," was developed to identify and promote hygienic toilets.
• Initial surveys revealed that only 9% of restaurants qualified for certification based on women's safety and hygiene standards.

4. Empowering Sanitation Workers: Gig Economy and Micro-Entrepreneurship

• A survey revealed that 60% of a janitor's salary is often taken by supervisors, leaving them with minimal income.
• To address this, a gig economy model was implemented, converting janitors into micro-entrepreneurs.
• IoT and SaaS technologies are used to create demand-based cleaning, shifting from SOP-based, time-based cleaning.
• The speaker criticizes the practice of creating "garish uniforms" for janitors, which contributes to social stigma.
• The goal is to create a system where sanitation workers are respected and valued.

5. Shoplet Model: Integrating Retail and Public Toilets

• The speaker redefines CSR as "Corporate Sanitation Responsibility."
• The "Shoplet" model is introduced: a 10x10 shop with two 3x5 toilets and a 70 sq ft retail space.
• The retail space can be used for various businesses, such as tea stalls or vegetable centers.
• The toilet attracts customers to the retail space, allowing the business to monetize the increased foot traffic.
• This model has enabled sanitation workers to earn 30,000 to 50,000 rupees a month.
• Currently, there are 21 "powder rooms" (certified washrooms) set up.
• The dream is to establish 20,000 powder rooms across 20,000 pin codes.

6. Addressing Distrust and Promoting Water Consumption

• A significant challenge was women's distrust of the availability and hygiene of public washrooms.
• Younger women were more willing to try certified washrooms and recommend them to older generations.
• To encourage usage, women were given small water bottles and asked to scan a QR code to find a washroom after drinking, addressing the fear of poor hygiene.

7. Call to Action: Collective Responsibility and Changing Attitudes

• The speaker emphasizes the need for collective responsibility in addressing the sanitation issue.
• Individuals should be sensitive to the needs of sanitation workers and understand their lives.
• Men and boys should be taught to help women find washrooms.
• The speaker challenges the notion that toilet problems are limited to slums and villages, stating that "every living human being in this room has a loo horror story."
• The final appeal is to "talk toilet before it's too late."

Conclusion:

The speaker presents a compelling case for addressing the lack of safe and hygienic washrooms for women in India. By analyzing the root causes, implementing technology-driven solutions, empowering sanitation workers, and promoting collective responsibility, the speaker outlines a path towards creating a more equitable and dignified society. The Shoplet model and the redefinition of CSR as Corporate Sanitation Responsibility offer practical frameworks for businesses and individuals to contribute to this important cause. The core message is that access to safe and hygienic washrooms is a fundamental right and a matter of social justice.