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Architect Building Eco-Friendly Toilets
At the begining of 2017, Rashmii Tiwaari settled in Hyderabad, was wondering how she would go about her M.Arch in Environmental Design thesis. After brainstorming for some days, she came up with the engenious idea of using plastic bottles to build toilets.
She completed her small-scale model and topped her college, only then realising that her project had the potential to solve a lingering problem in India.
Inspired by the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and its focus on eliminating open defaecation, Rashmii decided to build toilets for Dr. Ambedkar Goverment School. With the principal's support and funds from her own pocket Rashmii embarked on her mission this March.
Looking back. Rashmii says she has come a long way.
About Eco-Toilets
Upon realising that there was a lack of a toilet for females in Dr. Ambedkar Goverment School, Langer House, Hyderabad, Rashmii began her endeavour in the manth of March 201, to build an eco-friendly toilet. In a short span of two weeks, she completed her task.
"I used cement and sand for plastering, that's how I could cut down the construction costs further by 30%. I used 1,200 one-litre PET bottles in place of conventional bricks. For the mortar, inside the bottles, I used mud, cow dung and cow urine." she said
After two months of thorough testing, when it was clear that it could withstand various weather conditions, the eco-toilet was inaugurared on May 21. It proved not just eco-friendly but cost-effective too.
Main Reason for Initiative
According to a study, humans buy a million plastic bottles per minute. Out of all the plastic consumed, 91% of plastic is not recycled and the rest land into landfills or dumped in oceasn endangering animals and human beings on this planet.
Concerned by the increase of plastic bottles, she decided to use it as the key material in her project.
Future Plans
By the end of 2017, Rashmii pants to start her own NGO called 'NAMAHA' , through which she hopes to acquire the resources and funds required to further projects. Through her nGO, she plans on building more toilets using PET bottles to reach out to underprivileged people in rural areas.
By: Joanna Kurian
www.yourstory.com
