https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Is It A Bus Or A Toilet?

Mobile toilets and ring toilets were constructed by the former DC of Narayanpet, Hari Chandana Dasari, during her stint in the district
Indian Masterminds Stories

When Covid 19 pandemic hit India, Narayanpet district in Telangana didn’t have proper public sanitation facilities. The district was lagging behind in the construction of toilets. This is when the then District Collector of Narayanpet, Hari Chandana Dasari, devised a model of toilets which is now being replicated in the whole state.

The ‘Toilets on Wheel’ campaign, started by her, helped the district in getting an Open Defecation Free (ODF) status. Besides they also won an award for being the ‘Best Municipality’ in the country. Ms. Chandana was among the 19 winners of Excellence in Governance Awards 2020- 2021 announced by The Indian Express Group.

MISSION  MODE

Speaking with Indian Masterminds, she said, “The district was lagging behind in the construction of household’s toilets and there were limited public toilets. Compared to other districts in Telangana we were quite low in the Swachh campaign. Toilets in govt hospitals and schools were also lacking. As the Telangana govt was aiming at 100% coverage for the district, we decided to take toilet construction on a mission mode.”

Hari Chandana Dasari, IAS

During the pandemic, availability of manpower and materials for toilet construction was scarce. Hence the district adopted various pre-fab or easy to construct methods to fulfill the agenda of access to safe sanitation for all.

MOBILE TOILETS

Ms Dasari started with Kosgi Municipality where she got a mobile toilet started by converting an old RTC bus. Narayanpet district has lots of religious places which are used only for limited amounts of time by the locals. Rest of the time they are closed. Moreover, weekly fairs and cattle fairs are also conducted in the area.

IAS officer Hari Chandana said, “Permanent toilet construction in these areas would not be fully feasible as they have issues of usage and maintenance. Also having limited resources, we could only invest in a few mobile toilets. Hence, these old buses were converted into mobile toilets for women. Some of these buses are also converted into tea stalls which are operated by local SHG women.”

Mobile SHE Toilet in Kosgi Municipality

The mobile toilets were not the only way the administration was tackling the issue, but they also started ring toilets model at the hospitals. It takes around four days of construction time, using cement rings fixed on top of each other to form circular toilets. Each such toilet costs Rs 12k- 14k at that time, bringing down the cost and time of construction. It was a quick scalable model and is widely used in the district.

ODF PLUS STATUS

A parallel campaign was launched to mobilise people on safe sanitation and clean surroundings. people got involved in monitoring and maintaining these structures. As health became a priority and the district administration could link safe sanitation to this thus ensuring public participation. Within 3 months of implementing these various models the district was declared ODF+.

Ring Toilets

The mobile She toilet model was replicated in the whole state and was suggested as a best practice to be implemented by the urban development minister and other minister of Government of India. Now, more than 200 such bus-toilets are functioning in various places in Telangana.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
NITI Aayog Madhya Pradesh Indore Bhopal economic plans
NITI Aayog Collaborates with Madhya Pradesh Government to Develop Economic Plans for Indore and Bhopal Regions
Sanand Khoraj road project
Amit Shah and Bhupendra Patel Inaugurate ₹805-Crore Six-Lane Sanand-Khoraj GIDC Road Project in Ahmedabad
Yogi Adityanath
CM Yogi Adityanath Approves Five-Fold Hike in Financial Powers of PWD Officers in Uttar Pradesh
ONGC Ladakh
India’s Energy Projects See ₹1.34 Lakh Crore Cost Overrun Amid Delays in Oil, Gas and Power Sectors
800 km BrahMos missile
From Lab to Battlefield: India Fast-Tracks 800 km BrahMos Missile for 2027 Deployment!
National Biodiversity Authority
From Soil to Sustainability: National Biodiversity Authority Funding Invests ₹1.36 Crore in Local Biodiversity Initiatives in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh
Tarun Kumar Pithode
From MoEFCC to CAQM: Who Is IAS Tarun Kumar Pithode, the New Secretary of Air Quality Management — and What His Appointment Means for Delhi’s Pollution Battle
23for23 Campaign
India Celebrates International Snow Leopard Day with Nationwide ‘#23for23’ Campaign, Reports First Ever Census Recording 718 Snow Leopards
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
IDES Saquib Alam
Beyond IAS and IPS: The Inspiring Work of an IDES officer | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
NITI Aayog Madhya Pradesh Indore Bhopal economic plans
NITI Aayog Collaborates with Madhya Pradesh Government to Develop Economic Plans for Indore and Bhopal Regions
Sanand Khoraj road project
Amit Shah and Bhupendra Patel Inaugurate ₹805-Crore Six-Lane Sanand-Khoraj GIDC Road Project in Ahmedabad
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
IDES Saquib Alam
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT