Rural Development

SULABH MOVEMENT RESTORING HUMAN RIGHTS

The Sulabh International Institute of Rural Development, Research and Training (SIIRD) is a pioneering venture of Sulabh International Social Service Organization to "go towards villages", in its Silver Jubilee Year-(1994-95). Toeing the new panchsheel principles propounded by Prime Minister Narsimha Rao of going towards villages, creating model villages and 'marrying technology with tradition', the institute is all set to initiate the process of sustainable development in rural India.

Padma Bhushan Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak-Founder of Sulabh International-is the guiding spirit behind SIIRD. It, in fact, is his concept of taking Sulabh movement to rural India after its grand success in urban India. There have been quite a number of awards and honours, both national and international, conferred upon Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak. In 1991, Dr. Pathak was awarded the coveted national honour of Padma Bhushan for his social services by the then President of India-Shri R. Venkataraman. In 1992, padma Bhushan Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak was conferred the International St. Francis prize for Environment ("Canticle of all Creatures") and greeted personally by His Holiness Pope John Paul-II for this unique honour by the world body. He has received many other prestigious honours and awards in India and abroad.

Sulabh International, which launched the Sulabh Movement way back in 1970, has come a long way as it is currently working with its branches at 987 towns in 338 districts, spread across 29 states and 2 union territory of India. All this could be realized solely due to the untiring efforts of the illustrious Founder-Dr. Pathak.

The vision of 'Sulabh towards villages' is to utilize science in the service of humanity by taking technology to the doorstep of the mudhut of the common man. The guiding principle behind this rural development strategy is to synthesize science-based technology with traditional wisdom so as to ensure a healthy community life through the creation of a pollution free environment.

Following are the major objectives which SIIRD ventures to achieve :

1. To promote sustainable and equitable village based development, particularly in backward areas.
2. To develop ecologically sound and economically viable rural technologies integrating traditional wisdom and scientific innovations.
3. To develop and implement different types of training modules for officials and functionaries of government and non-government organisations and to impart rural management and rural development oriented training to officials and functionaries of different agencies and organisations engaged in rural development programmes and activities in India and abroad.
4. To promote national and international understanding amongst development experts, scientists, researchers, executives, voluntary workers through exchange programmes at national and international levels.

Sulabh International has a global net-work as it is working in close collaboration with international agencies like WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNDP, UNCHS, O.D.A. British Councial and the World Bank. Sulabh International has worked as a consultant on a number of World Bank Projects.

Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak has evolved an innovative "trickle-up" model of rural development which is truly sustainable in character and a pragmatically viable propositions. This four-tier model entails a strategy based on an effective research-training-development linkage system.

The training pyramid designed by Sulabh International is a four-tier system which aims to create a network of training for rural development functionaries from the state as well as the panchayat and village levels.

The model comprises training two functionaries from each district at the state level. These trained trainers will impart training to two persons from each block. These block-level trained trainers, in turn, will train two panchayat-level youths who will act as motivators and change-agents. These motivators will train the interested members of the community and mediators and implementors of various rural development programmes and activities.

Research is the major thrust area of SIIRD, apart from training. Thus, research in this field has led to the installation of Sulabh Shauchalayas (or toilets) which has resulted in better health, healthier and hygienic environment and finally-higher productivity. Hence, research activities of SIIRD will focus on rural health, village-environment, as well as employment strategies.

Another vital area of research earmarked by SIIRD is biogas-generation from human waste. this is an area wherein Sulabh International excels since it was the first such institution to produce biogas from human excreta and utilise it as cooking energy as well as electricity. The accent of biogas research will be on the optimum utilisation of human excreta and other mixed wastes like water hyacinth, vegetable and agricultural wastes for biogas-production.

SIIRD has the unique advantage of a strong expertise-base in various fields of social sciences i.e. in action sociology, human resource development, rural sociology, technology transfer, low-cost rural technology, rural sanitation and community health, action research and training methodologies. Experts of Sulabh International, widely known for their contribution in a administrative, academic and scientific fields, are also associated with SIIRD as the members of its advisory faculty.

The SIIRD faculty are known figures in their respective fields. The faculty, being hardly few year old, is yet to acquire its full strength as it is growing day by day.

Director General,
Sulabh International Institute of Rural Development Research And Training
Sulabh Bhawan, Mahavir Enclave,
New Delhi-110 045, (India)
Tel. : 25032617, 25031518, 25031519, 25032654;
Fax : (091-11) 25036122, 25034014