Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta Group company in Zinc-Lead-Silver business has joined hands with the Rajasthan Government to construct 30,000 house-hold toilets under the central and state government scheme to build house-hold toilets in rural India.

The company has already started the construction of toilets in Bhilwara and Chittorgarh and an MoU to construct 10,000 toilets has been signed recently in Udaipur, the work of which will start shortly. These construction of toilets are part of Government’s sanitation campaign, a comprehensive program to ensure sanitation facilities in rural areas, to be completed in 3 years period.

The project of constructing toilets aims to eradicate open defecation practices in the villages that would eventually improve the hygiene practices and create awareness towards Health & Sanitation in villages. These toilets will also minimize the risk of contamination of drinking water sources and food thus reducing the health related problems in rural India.

According to UNICEF report, today only 48% of rural Indian population has access to good toilet and sanitation facilities. When more than 50% of Indian population defecates in open it leads to improper disposal of the waste, sanitation issues and cause of many harmful diseases. With Rajasthan in particular, 60% of population defecates in open.

Lack of Toilets facilities in rural areas for females have always been a matter of concern, especially during the late hours. Toilet in each house-hold provides comfort, convenience with a sense of security and dignity to each member of the house, particularly the female members.

Hindustan Zinc would be spending about Rs. 7.5 crore towards construction of these toilets. Through its community relations programs, the company is reaching out to about 500,000 people in about 185 villages in Bhilwara, Rajsamand, Udaipur and Chittorgarh.