New Delhi: There are some stories that are worth revisiting because the work behind them continues to matter. The 7th edition of the ISC-FICCI Sanitation Awards, held in 2023, was one such moment. The awards brought together organisations, government bodies, social enterprises and individuals who were working across different parts of the sanitation and WASH ecosystem. The 2023 edition recognised winners across 12 categories, with the awards also introducing special categories around plastic recycling and waste management. For NDTV-Dettol Banega Swachh India, looking back at these champions is also a reminder that the sanitation story is not limited to toilets. It includes dignity, women’s safety, menstrual hygiene, technology, livelihoods, waste management and community participation.
Download The Full Report: ISC-FICCI Sanitation Awards 2023
PVR NEST Put Women’s Safety At The Centre
One of the key corporate winners of the 2023 edition was PVR NEST, the CSR arm of PVR INOX Limited. It won the Best Corporate Initiative in Sanitation (CSR) award for its work around women and children in marginalised communities.
Its flagship Pink Centres offered women-exclusive sanitation facilities in partnership with the Delhi Municipal Corporation and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights. The initiative went beyond providing basic sanitation facilities, with a focus on safety, privacy, menstrual hygiene and child-friendly spaces. The report notes that the Pink Centres continued to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic, recording a footfall of 3.5 lakh. PVR NEST also introduced Garima Grih, creating multi-utility sanitation complexes with a strong focus on women’s safety and empowerment.
Non-Profits Took On Sanitation From The Ground Up
The Best Non-Profit Engagement Model in Sanitation category highlighted two different but equally important approaches.
Janvikas was recognised in the urban category for its Garima Programme, which focused on ending manual scavenging and supporting sanitation communities. In the rural category, Anahat for Change Foundation was recognised for Project Unnati, which worked around menstrual health awareness and reusable cloth pads. The latter also had a strong sustainability angle. The initiative started in the slums of Kolkata before expanding to other regions, where women were trained to make and sell reusable cloth pads.
When Communication Became A Tool For Change
Sanitation work also needs awareness, and the awards recognised this through the Best Communication in Sanitation category. HCL Foundation won in the traditional communication category for its work under HCL Samuday, while Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) / Lohiya Swachh Bihar Abhiyan was recognised in the digital category for its Digital Communication and Monitoring System. The Bihar initiative had been deployed across 1,671 Gram Panchayats and reached more than five lakh households, showing how digital tools could support communication and monitoring at scale.
Making WASH More Accessible Through Finance
The Best Innovative Financial Accessibility Model for WASH award went to Satin Creditcare Network Limited for its WASH loan programme. The initiative helped rural households access financing for sanitation-related needs, including toilets. According to the report, the programme had catered to more than 2.9 lakh households across 20 states.
Technology Met Sanitation With Spruce Up
The Best Engagement Model in Sanitation by a Social Enterprise/Start-up award went to Spruce Up for its Jatayu machines.
The idea was simple but important: reduce direct contact between sanitation workers and waste. The initiative also focused on skilling workers. 912 sanitation workers had been moved away from manual waste collection, while 304 operators had been upskilled.
States That Took The Lighthouse Initiative Forward
Government efforts were also recognised at the 2023 awards. Uttar Pradesh, represented by the Mission Director, SBM(G), was recognised as the state that undertook the maximum Gram Panchayats under the Lighthouse Initiative. Bihar, represented by the CEO-cum-Mission Director, SBM(G), was recognised as the state with the maximum model Gram Panchayats under the Lighthouse Initiative framework.
From FSSM To Skilling: Expanding The Sanitation Story
The awards also looked at areas that often receive less attention.
CDD India was recognised for its work in Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM) in rural Karnataka.
Meanwhile, the Housing & Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha, won the Best Skilling Initiative for Sanitation for its work under the Garima scheme. The focus was not only on sanitation systems but also on the people who keep them running.
Recognising The People Behind Sanitation Work
The Excellence in Work for Upliftment of Sanitation Workers category recognised the Movement for Scavenger Community for its efforts towards improving the lives of sanitation workers and their communities. The initiative focused on areas such as education, leadership and entrepreneurship, showing why improving sanitation also means improving the dignity and opportunities of sanitation workers.
Women Changemakers Who Made Their Mark
The Women Changemakers in Sanitation category brought grassroots leadership into focus.
Priyanka Tiwari, Pradhan of Rajpur in Uttar Pradesh, and Komal Kumari, Mukhiya of Harla in Bihar, were recognised as winners. Priyanka’s work included sanitation, hygiene and plastic waste management in her village, while Komal Kumari played a role in establishing Bihar’s first GOBARdhan Yojana unit. The awards also gave special recognition to Aspiya Banu, Member of the Sanjeevini Grama Panchayath Level Women’s Federation in Karnataka, and Meghna Sahoo, President of the Transgender Swikruti SHG in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
A New Focus On Plastic Waste
One of the notable additions to the 2023 edition was its focus on plastic waste management. Two new special categories were introduced: Best Initiative in Plastic Recycling & Waste Management by an MSME and Best Collaboration in Plastic Waste Management – Medium and Large Corporates. Nepra Resource Management Private Limited won the MSME category for its work around plastic recycling and waste management. The initiative worked with government bodies including the Indore Municipal Corporation and Indore Smart City Development Authority and used technology at its Material Recovery Facility to help close the waste loop. Xynteo India Private Limited was recognised in the corporate category for its collaboration-led approach to plastic waste management.
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