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From Waste To WASH: Looking Back At The Champions Of The ISC-FICCI Sanitation Awards 2024
The eighth edition of the ISC-FICCI Sanitation Awards put the spotlight on organisations, governments, start-ups, women changemakers and community groups that are finding practical ways to make sanitation better, safer and more sustainable
New Delhi: When we talk about a cleaner India, the conversation today goes far beyond toilets. It is about what happens to our waste, how wastewater is treated, how sanitation workers are supported and how communities themselves become part of the solution. That wider picture came through strongly at the 8th edition of the ISC-FICCI Sanitation Awards in 2024. The awards recognised winners across 11 categories, with a new category also introduced to recognise Self-Help Groups working in WASH and livelihoods. For NDTV-Dettol Banega Swachh India, looking back at the 2024 champions is a chance to revisit some of these ideas – and the people behind them.
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Two Non-Profits, Two Different Ways To Solve Local Problems
The Best Corporate Initiative in Sanitation (CSR) award went to HDFC Bank Parivartan for its Rural & Urban Landscape Free of Dry & Plastic Waste initiative in Bastar, Chhattisgarh.
The project, carried out with the Centre for Environment Education, focused on reducing single-use plastic and building better systems for dry and plastic waste. It brought together local bodies, SHGs, waste pickers, recyclers and other stakeholders.
Also Read: Reckitt, ASCI Launch SAFER Challenge To Develop Affordable Technology For Sanitation Worker Safety
Two Non-Profits, Two Different Ways To Solve Local Problems
The Best Non-Profit Engagement Model in Sanitation category had two winners. In the urban category, the Aga Khan Foundation was recognised for its solid waste management work across three Urban Local Bodies in Bihar. The initiative focused on waste segregation, home composting, citizen participation and better local governance.
The results included more than 34,000 households adopting waste segregation, 1,902 waste pickers being integrated into the formal system and a 45% reduction in the volume of waste going to landfills compared with the 2018 baseline. In the rural category, the S M Sehgal Foundation was recognised for its work on soak pits and soak wells. The low-cost model helped rural communities manage wastewater while also supporting groundwater recharge. By March 2023, the initiative had reached 147 villages across 12 districts in seven states.
OneEarth Foundation Showed That A Campaign Can Create Action
The Best Communication in Sanitation award went to the OneEarth Foundation for its Drive Against Plastic Pollution campaign in Goa. The campaign took the message beyond posters and awareness talks. It included beach and mangrove clean-ups, kayak clean-ups, workshops and community activities, while using the 5R approach – Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle. Over 30 days, it directly engaged 1,300 people, reached another 100,000 indirectly and collected 1.4 tonnes of waste. The campaign also worked with students, fishing communities, government bodies and other partners.
Making WASH Finance Reach The Last Mile
For the Best Innovative Financial Accessibility Model for WASH, the award went to Nabsamruddhi Finance Limited for its Climate-Resilient WASH Funding Program. Launched in November 2023, the programme focused on financing WASH initiatives for underserved communities and addressing the connection between climate change and unsafe WASH practices. The initiative had already expanded across seven states, with cumulative disbursements of ₹358 crore through 36 partners. It had also supported more than 50,000 WASH borrowers, 90% of whom were women.
Also Read: Dettol Climate-Resilient Schools Initiative Creates Safer Learning Environments In Uttarakhand
JK Nanosolutions Brought Nanotechnology Into Wastewater Treatment
The Best Engagement Model in Sanitation by a Social Enterprise/Start-up award went to JK Nanosolutions Private Limited.
The Bengaluru-based start-up uses nanotechnology for wastewater treatment and recycling. Its solution can treat up to 98% of wastewater while using less space, power and maintenance than conventional systems. By 2023-24, the initiative had treated more than 500 million litres of wastewater across multiple regions and had expanded from Karnataka to six other states.
Gujarat’s Government Model Turned Wastewater Into A Resource
The Special Recognition Award for Government went to the Commissionerate of Rural Development, Gujarat, for its VEDANCHHA Model for sustainable greywater management. The model uses decentralised wastewater treatment and waste stabilisation ponds to treat greywater at the community level. The treated water can then be used for irrigation and groundwater recharge, while organic manure generated during the process can be used in farming. By 2023, 90 greywater treatment units had been installed across Gujarat, with plans for more units across the state.
Leh’s FSSM Model Showed What A PPP Can Do
The Best Model in Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM) award went to the Municipal Committee Leh and Blue Water Company. Their initiative created India’s first PPP for integrated faecal sludge management in Leh. The project uses technology such as vacuum-based desludging, GPS-enabled vehicles and digital payments, while the treatment plant also works as a sanitation park. The system has achieved 100% coverage in Leh and improved sanitation services for residents, tourists and temporary workers.
The Harpic World Toilet College Put Sanitation Workers At The Centre
The Best Initiative in Sanitation for Empowering Sanitation Workers award went to Jagran Pehel for the Harpic World Toilet College (HWTC). The programme focuses on training, safety, health and job opportunities for sanitation workers. After six phases, it had trained more than 60,000 sanitation workers and helped secure jobs for more than 64,000 individuals. It also reached over five lakh family members through health camps and awareness programmes.
Sonam Ratubha Sodha Made Menstrual Hygiene Part Of The Sustainability Conversation
The Women Changemakers in Sanitation award went to Sonam Ratubha Sodha, Managing Director and COO of Himalayan Hemp Industries. Her initiative focused on reusable sanitary pads made from cannabis hemp fibre. The idea brought together menstrual hygiene, environmental sustainability and rural livelihoods. The initiative had reached more than 5,000 women and expanded from 10 villages to 50 villages and urban neighbourhoods. It also created local employment for 125 artisans and 50 village saleswomen.
Rhino Machines Turned Hard-To-Recycle Waste Into Building Material
The Best Initiative in Plastic Recycling & Waste Management by SME/MSME award went to Rhino Machines Private Limited for its Silica Plastic Block (SPB) initiative. The technology combines low-value plastic waste with foundry dust to create a material that can be used as an alternative to products such as paver blocks and bricks. The company has invested around ₹1.5 crore in the technology and works with research institutions, SHGs and social enterprises to develop the model and create community-based micro-enterprises.
A New Category, And A Community-Led Sanitation Idea
The 2024 edition also introduced the Best SHG Model in Livelihood for WASH category. The winner was the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) for its Aspirational Toilets – the SHG-Led Sanitation Revolution. The initiative worked with the WINMIN SHG federation in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, where local households were supported with interest-free loans, technical help and material procurement to build toilets suited to their needs.
SHG members were also trained in masonry, helping reduce construction costs through local labour. More than 1,000 community members were educated about sanitation, while the model focused on giving residents greater ownership over their sanitation choices. The 2024 champions showed that every step counts. When communities, organisations and changemakers come together, even small ideas can create lasting change.