Vol. 5, Issue 3, Part B (2019)

Abstract
Clean and safe toilets are prerequisites for many points of view inter alia of which area health, hygiene, dignity and privacy. Keeping in mind of the issue, the World Toilet Organization was established in 2001 with the aim to break the taboo around toilets and the sanitation crisis. Since 2001, World Toilet Organization lobbied governments, public and private sector stakeholders and the international community to prioritize sanitation in the development agenda. In India, one such organization Gramalaya which has been operating in Tamil Nadu based on its office at Tiruchirappalli District may be mentioned. Gramalaya has been promoting SMART toilets (S - Safe and Sustainable, M – Maintainable, A – Affordable, R - Recyclable (waste), T - Technically perfect) under the leadership of its Founder Chairman Mr. S. Damodaran. Also Gramalaya has been producing sustainable sanitary pads for the menstrual girls and women for their better health and hygiene. In this research article, activities of Gramalaya were studied by the author in Tiruchirappalli and Puddukottai districts of Tamil Nadu in February 2019 and the cases are presented here. It is also suggested that such models may be replicated other parts of the country based on local social, cultural and backward and forward linkages.