as As the sanitation economy grows significantly in India, the current ecosystem requires increased participation from corporations to ensure that India achieves its SDGs by 2030. Therefore, multi-stakeholder partnerships between private and public sector players become a priority to enable universal and sustainable access to water and sanitation. Globally, with 494 million people lacking basic sanitation facilities for 1.7 billion people subjected to unsafe sanitation, making them more susceptible to the COVID-19 virus and other diseases, these are two troubling realities that need to be addressed. Was exposed at the peak of the pandemic and extended lockdown.
Combating the matter under consideration, the Government of India aims to implement the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0 by 2026, with an outlay of 1.41 lakh crore. However, universal sanitation can only be achieved with greater collaboration where private companies, governments and NGOs come together to realize a common dream. Along with central government work, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly introducing appropriate technology and focus-driven ones into the sanitation economy. As the sanitation economy is expected to grow significantly in the region, the ecosystem needs more support, participation and investment from corporations. This market has an untapped potential for major businesses to explore and promote further growth. R&D and investment are two important keys that will provide solutions in improving access and availability of safe water and sanitation practices. Given their existing capabilities and expertise, another essential area of opportunity for private players is to capture, treat and reuse human waste.
An interesting development in the industry shows that various FMCGs, multilateral and leading non-profits, have roped in leading restroom organizations to offer clean and hygienic unisex public restrooms in high footfall areas of India using the Internet of Things (IoT). are encouraged to revolutionize their business strategies. , The move has also increased commercial investment. Such ventures are testimony to the fact that entrepreneurs in the sanitation sector can create large scale businesses, thereby generating interest in corporates to invest in sanitation.
Role of Corporates in Cleanliness Economy
The lack of proper sanitation services costs the world an estimated US$223 billion each year. An important statistic that must be remembered is that for every dollar invested in sanitation, there is a $4.3 return through reduction in health care costs. In a world where sanitation and health are so inextricably linked, organizations need to focus on increasing investment in sanitation technology and innovation with an annual market value that could reach USD 6 billion globally by 2030 Is. When one large corporation leads the way in supporting and investing in SMEs, others will surely follow suit to create a chain reaction to achieve universal and accessible sanitation.
One way to accelerate that process is for corporations to help raise private capital through government and philanthropic funding in emerging and marginal markets, as well as scaling up to create further avenues for funding, investments and partnerships. And support them in networking. By focusing on SMEs, corporates give them access to their enhanced supply chains, and a glimpse of market trends, thereby unlocking orderly demand as well. This in turn drives the creation of goods, designing of services and creation of data. Outcome serves as a platform for SMEs to innovate and address other difficult issues within the sector.
The work is not limited to helping SMEs through investments, also providing the right guidance for corporate growth, breaking into markets, quality, accessibility and sustainable scalability. They share insights on their valuable R&D platform, data and consumer behaviour, digital sanitation systems that optimize data for consumer usage and health information as well as operational efficiencies, maintenance with SMEs. This helps SMEs to scale faster. With the knowledge of proven methods to improve the supply chain, SMEs also have the resources to ensure last mile access to safe sanitation practices for every citizen.
Government of India is already paving the way for corporations to invest in SMEs in the sanitation industry ‘Clean India Mission’, India’s efforts towards universal sanitation have accelerated, creating a conducive environment for SMEs that thrive on innovation. This collaboration between the public and private sectors has created a smooth playing field for solving India’s sanitation challenges. With 229 million people still not having access to better sanitation in India, it is an opportune time to increase collaboration among the said players.
A relevant example of coordinated effort among various stakeholders is located in Mumbai project facility, Several facilitation centers have been set up across the city in partnership with HSBC India, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai and other non-profits to implement sanitation solutions on a large scale. A first of its kind urban community sanitation and hygiene facility for urban low-income households in Mumbai, Maharashtra has helped over 2 lakh people access clean and hygienic toilets and aims to save 35 million liters of water annually. There is a lesson to be learned here – the sanitation economy has the potential to transform cities, communities and businesses and deliver benefits to all stakeholders. However, a country as diverse as ours needs all key stakeholders such as non-profits, government, corporates and citizens to work in partnership to achieve India’s SDGs by 2030 and achieve sustainable development for all.
Priyanka Tanwar, Toilet Board Coalition India Chair and Leader, Communications and Corporate Responsibility, Asia Pacific and Greater China, Lixil
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