Ganga Action Parivar participated in the ground-breaking event of the signing of a Memorandam of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on 26th July. This Memorandum of Understanding will allow for the set-up of bio-digester toilets across the Panchayats in India. The bio-digester technology developed by DRDO is a non-polluting and effective method that degrades and converts human waste into usable water and gasses in a completely eco-friendly manner. The generated gas can be utilized for energy/cooking and the water can be used for irrigation. Many esteemed dignitaries were in attendance including Hon’ble Minister of Rural Development Shri Jairam Rameshji, Hon’ble Raksha Mantri of the Ministry of Defence Shri A. K. Antony, and Hon’ble Minister of Statistics and Information Shri Srikant Kumar Jena. Other noted dignitaries included, among others:
- Smt. Vilasini Ramachandran, Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation
- Shri S Ramakrishnan, Director DRDO
- Dr. W Selva Murthy, Offg. Secy Def R&D
- Dr. Rajeev Kumar, Secy General FICCI
- Dr. Lokendra Singh, Director Life Sciences
A pilot plan of this bio-digester model is set to be inaugurated in the second week of September with Ganga Action Parivar at the Parmarth Niketan Ashram.