Environmental Sanitation Institute
The Environmental Sanitation Institute (ESI) is a non-governmental organization based on the Gandhian values of environmentalism that strives to provide a better quality of life to rural peoples and the urban poor of India by improving their sanitation situation. The Institute was born in 1985 out of its mother NGO, Safai Vidyalaya (“sanitation institute”), under the leadership of Padmashri Ishwarbhai Patel. The Environmental Sanitation Institute tackles the problem of sanitation with the holisitic mindset that the issue affects the environment, health, education and economy of the whole country. The mission is to provide access to basic sanitary needs to the rural and urban poor , upgradation of rural and urban health through education, motivation, and community participation , upliftment of down trodden people, especially sweepers and scavengers, and creation of environmental awareness and respect based on Gandhian values.
Environmental sanitation institute implements school-based programs to teach children about the importance of sanitation and hygiene from a young age.Their smile Ki sawari van takes pre-school and primary school children and gives them a joy ride. And as the children have fun in the smile ki sawari, volunteers and workers cut their nails, comb their hair and slowly introduce them to the idea of sanitation. They conducts regular workshops and seminars to educate community members, local leaders, and professionals on best sanitation practices and hygiene and organizes community awareness campaigns to highlight the importance of proper sanitation and hygiene. Builds and upgrades sanitation facilities such as toilets, handwashing stations, and water supply systems in rural and urban areas & establishes maintenance programs to ensure the longevity and functionality of sanitation infrastructure. Works closely with government agencies other NGOs, international organizations, and private sector entities to align projects with national sanitation goals and policies. Safai Vidyalaya is the original branch of the Harijan Sevak Sangh, an initiative established by Gandhi in 1932 to bring greater sanitation through instilling a sensitivity and removal of untouchability, as well as fostering the engineering and designing of toilets and sanitation technologies to suit diverse populations and needs across the state and nation. It offers health and nutrition-specific two-day trainings for Anganwadi teachers, one-day trainings for Sanitation Inspectors, and various workshops for individuals from the villages. Through these trainings, Safai Vidyalaya serves 5,000 teachers each year.
