PROFILE OF A SOCIAL

ENTREPRENEUR:
DR. BINDESHWAR PATHAK
FOUNDER: SISSO (SULABH INTERNATION SOCIAL SERVICE
ORGANISATION)

BY,
VIKASH KUMAR
PGEXP/096/2013-15
COURSE: SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT, RANCHI

DR. BINDESHWAR PATHAK (SISSO):

The Background

Born in 1943 in Vaishali, Bihar

In late 60s during his Ph.D. on Liberation of scavengers through Low Cost
Sanitation travelled all over the country, visited & lived with scavengers in
their bastis to study their customs & habits
In 1968, joined the Liberation of Scavengers Cell of the Bihar Gandhi
Centenary Celebration Committee to design celebration of birth centenary
of Mahatma Gandhi with the task to find out alternative to scavenging.
Gandhijis works to restore the human rights, dignity of scavengers and to
eliminate the untouchability had great impact on young Dr. Pathaks life
and proved to be a turning point.
Determined to save them from their filthy conditions by developing a
technology which may become a credible alternative to defecation in open
and scavenging
Aimed to educate and motivate the people, sensitize policy makers and
functionaries and promote activities and programmes of the Government
as well as the people, to achieve Sulabhs vision in the foreseeable future.

DR. BINDESHWAR PATHAK (SISSO):

The Idea

Innovated an indigenous, eco-friendly, affordable, socially and

culturally acceptable Twin-pit Pour-Flush Compost Toilet Technology
(Sulabh Shauchalaya) as a solution of defecation in open and
scavenging.
Founded SISSO in 1970 as Non Profit Social Organisation with a
vision of A healthy and hygienic India, free of the practice of
defecation in the open and faecal pollution of environment.
Easy to construct and maintain.
Water consumption reduce to 1.5 to 2 litres as compared to 10 to 15
litres in conventional toilets.
In 1974 started Public Toilets on pay & use basis in Patna, Bihar. Land
& Cost of construction was given by Patna Municipal Corporation.
Adopted idea of holistic development of under privileged and
diversified in the area of Schools, Vocational Training Centres, Slum
Welfare, Women Empowerment etc.

DR. BINDESHWAR PATHAK (SISSO):

Funding

In 1973, he had put up two Sulabh Shauchalayas for

demonstration in the compound of the Arrah Municipality, a small
town of Bihar and the people of Arrah town started adopting this
technology.
Later on Buxar Municipality came forward to adopt the system
In 1974 established a Public Toilet Complex at Patna, Bihar. The
land and the cost of construction was provided by the Patna
Municipal Corporation
Presently having annual budget of Rs. 100.00 crores appx.
Receives fund from State authorities for development of public
sanitation system. Water treatment projects are funded by MoEF,
GoI
Funded by national and international funding agency like European
Union in collaboration with Bremen Overseas Research and
Development Agency (BORDA), World Bank, UN Habitat, DFID
Charges overhead 15-20% from donors as institutional charge,

DR. BINDESHWAR PATHAK (SISSO):

Customers & Achievements

The targeted beneficiaries are the scavengers, under privileged and

weaker section of the society.
SISSO has constructed over 7500 toilets (Sulabh Shauchalaya) and have
been maintaining them. The services are used by 15 million people daily.
It has also installed above 1.5 million household toilets
Expand geographically in 25 states and 4 UTs where Government/Local
authorities also use its services for creation of public sanitation system.
Government of Afganistan and Bhutan are also availing services of SISSO.
It has been imparting training to planners, administrators and
entrepreneurs of 14 African countries in collaboration with UN-Habitat.
Mr. Pathak & SISSO has received over 40 awards during last 15 years
including Padma Bhushan (1991), UNCHS award (1996), UNEP award
(2003), UN Habitat award (2003), International Human Rights award
(2006).

Thank You