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Keepers of slum sanitation ask for incentives from BMC They say they need the money to keep the project afloat Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) will soon approach the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) asking for incentives to manage the slum sanitation programme. This was revealed in a press gathering by members of two CBOs, one of which won Germany's Urban Age Award for the Slum Sanitation Project (SSP). The gathering highlighted the problems faced by the CBOs. The members spoke about the problems that the sanitation plan has to go through. "We want the BMC to help us with extra incentives, so that the sanitation plan can be more successful. At present, we find it difficult to maintain it with the monthly charges we take," said Dayanand Jadhav of Triratna Prerana Mandal, a CBO based in Santa Cruz. According to the rules, the CBOs have to maintain the toilets under the SSP that was started by the BMC with the World Bank. The programme envisages having 35,000 toilet seats by 2012 all over Mumbai. Until recently, the CBOs had to give 30 per cent of the loan amount, while the rest was paid by the BMC. For availing the facility, each individual had to pay Rs100 and a family Rs500. However, the BMC has now decided to shell out all the money. Maintenance, however, is still the CBO's job. Till date, the SSP has completed Phase I of 330 toilet blocks consisting of 6,050 toilet seats. The Phase II will see 235 toilet blocks consisting of 4,700 toilet seats which are under construction. "The biggest problem is about getting the money from people. If they help the CBOs, then the plan can be better worked out," said Anil Bhatia from PARTHA, an NGO which has been working with CBOs for the past nine years. Abdul Sattar, a member of a CBO, said, "We would also want the BMC to subsidise the water and electricity charges." Earlier, the CBOs were being charged commercial rates. "We may even ask for putting up advertisements there," said Jadhav. |
