Sulabh International Social Service Organisation

1968: Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak joined the liberation of scavengers’ cell of the Bihar Gandhi Centenary Celebration Committee in 1968

1970: Sulabh Organisation Registered

1970 Expansion:
The mass movement by Dr. Pathak started spreading all over the country with a cadre of about 50,000 Sulabh volunteers

1972 Catalytic Agent:
After developing a technology, Dr. Pathak evolved a methodology which also spelt out how a non-profit making social organisation could work as a catalytic agent between the Government, local bodies and the beneficiaries.

1973 Scavengers Liberation:
During the past 30 years, Dr. Pathak brought the scavengers’ liberation programme from the microlevel to the macro-level. 

1974 Pay-and-use System:
In 1974, the Sulabh Founder gave another concept of maintaining the community toilets and bath on the pay-and-use basis. 

1978 Historical Seminar:
Seeing the success of the scavengers liberation movement in Bihar, the Ministry of Works and Housing, Government of India, in collaboration with the WHO and UNICEF, organised a national seminar at Patna in 1978 on conversion of bucket latrines and liberation of scavengers. 

1980-81 Legal Protection:
Dr. Pathak persuaded the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, to include liberation of scavengers and their rehabilitation programme on the "whole-town approach" basis. 

1984 Biogas from Public Toilet:
The first Sulabh public toilet linked biogas plant was set up at Adalatganj, Patna.

1985 Training And Rehabilitation:
With the help of the Ministry of Welfare, Government of India, Welfare Department, Government of Bihar, and the Bihar State Scheduled Castes Development Corporation, Sulabh started a training and rehabilitation programmes.

1985 Technology Evaluation:
The UNDP and the World Bank after evaluation of the Sulabh technology of the pourflush toilet and the methodology of the maintenance of public toilets and baths on ‘pay-and-use’ basis, passed it on to the countries of South-East Asia, Africa and Latin America for their adoption.

1986 Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act:
Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak persuaded the Ministry of Welfare to give stipends to the wards of Muslim and Christian scavengers also for training and rehabilitation.

1988 Scavengers In Temple:
Dr. Pathak solved the problem of entry of Harijans into Nathdwara Temple in Udaipur, Rajasthan, for prayers.

1989 Casteless Puja:
On his return from Nathwara, Dr. Pathak launched a campaign to help the Scheduled Castes offer prayers in temples and performing puja at their homes by Vedic Brahmins.

1990 Social Upgradation of Scavengers:
To improve the social status of scavengers in India, Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak has launched a movement to socially upgrade them.

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