study conducted by the Kalinga Institute of Social Science in 2015 revealed that only 2 per cent of the population in the hamlets surrounding Tata Sponge Iron Limited used toilets. It further identified that the cause of the absence of toilets was not poverty but the mindset and ignorance of the people towards the hygiene aspects of water and sanitation. Tata Sponge decided to allocate a large share of its CSR spend on improving basic sanitation, and make Birikela Gram Panchayat, where the company is located, an Open Defecation Free (ODF) Panchayat, benefiting about 1,100 families in the six villages (or 16 hamlets) of Birikela. And thus, Project Swabhiman (as it was named) was conceptualised. A long-term plan was developed to complete this project in five years, in a phased manner. The preparatory plans met with several unprecedented challenges, which caused a delay in implementation. For example, the tradition of defecation outside houses has been an age-old habit, as retention of faeces in any form inside the boundary of the house was deemed taboo. Therefore, despite having sufficient money to build toilets, the residents continued to defecate in the open. Also, the villagers felt that it was sufficient for them to just agree to shift from their age-old custom, and the company will do the rest. However, to make the project sustainable, it was important to secure collaboration of the beneficiary people, through contribution to the project. It was felt that after the construction of a toilet-cum-bathroom (TBR) and piped water, an arrangement had to be made for the maintenance of the water source and other regular needs. During the initial approach, no one came forward to take the onus. They also had to be made skilled in managing the requirement.
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Improving basic sanitation