Arunachal engineer gets Swachch award for toilet tech

The toilet innovation idea of Ram Prakash Tiwari, junior engineer of the Yupia division of PHED was selected among 3,053 entries from across the country and professionals abroad in the category of Toilet Technology in Difficult Terrain, an official statement said here today. 

Entries for Swachhathon, under Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), include a one-minute video presentation on an idea. The state government had nominated Tiwari’s innovation based on locally available materials, particularly mature bamboos wrapped in plastic for use in twin pit latrines as a suitable alternative to bricks. 

The grand jury comprising Naina Lal Kidwai, Bindeshwar Pathak and Secretary of Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation Parameswaran Iyer gave top billing for Tiwari's concept. 

The first prize comprising a plaque, certificate and Rs 3-lakh was awarded by Union Minister SS Ahluwalia and Union Minister of State for Drinking Water and Sanitation Ramesh Jigajinagi on Friday in New Delhi. The cost-effective and sustainable solution was built on pilot basis by a beneficiary Tana Techi from Midpu in Lekha panchayat under the direct supervision and technical guidance of Tiwari and the team of Yupia PHE and WS Division. The technology is to be adopted in the state for achieving Open Defecation Free by December.