The Covid-19 outbreak has become all too familiar today, having become one of the biggest healthcare crises the world has ever seen. The pandemic has acutely challenged healthcare systems across the world, bringing the global economy to a screeching halt even in developed nations like the USA and Japan. India has faced its brunt to the greatest degree, clocking the maximum number of cases as a result of being poorly equipped to deal with a large-scale healthcare issue.

While the world is still awaiting the emergence of an effective vaccine, the responsibility of which has largely been assumed by the pharmaceutical industry, the government has turned its attention to prophylactic care. The infection rate is very high, owing to a general lack of hygiene, evidenced by the large incidence of open defecation in the country and access to quality healthcare. There is a great need to develop affordable alternatives to relieve the crippled healthcare system.

Saraplast Industries is one such institution that has developed an innovative solution – portable toilets – which also doubles up as a Covid diagnostic facility. On interaction with Rajeev Kher, the founder and CEO of Saraplast industries, he revealed that their mission was to “reach every Indian with their solution”. He stands by the cruciality of his enterprise towards nation-building, due to the positive externalities that a circular sanitation economy could bring to the country.

Started as a philanthropic initiative, Saraplast now has its footprints marked across several Indian states. They have reached out to numerous villages by partnering with State governments and individual village communities with their solutions, to create a lasting change. The company currently has received funding globally from various impact investors and private enterprises, thus taking its user base to over 10 million so far. Despite their impressive achievement, there is yet a lot of ground left to be covered, which would require reconciliation and active participation from several stakeholders.

The Government has taken cognizance of this issue in the recent past, making Swachch Bharat Abhiyaan a priority, which has given rise to a number of institutions working to build toilets across the nation. Backed by government incentivization, many entrepreneurial efforts like water ATMs, filtering and desalination devices, etc. have materialized in the market, opening a plethora of business opportunities for SME’s as well and big companies. SME’s in particular have great potential to contribute to this cause by virtue of their reach, local knowledge and influence. Collaboration with SME’s could enable big conglomerates to breach the last mile barrier and create an impact where it is most needed. With their deep pockets, cost-effective manufacturing and technological expertise, big businesses hold immense power to act as instruments of social change in society.

Apart from the Government and business houses, the Covid virus itself has been a major proponent for the healthcare and sanitation industry. By being the biggest agent of change, it has brought about a huge focus on maintaining basic hygiene, access to clean water, safe disposal of waste, and increased discipline among the previously nonchalant Indian public towards the same. People have begun following the age-old practice of washing before entering the home and saving water due to limited availability. The virus has unified multiple stakeholders including the State, public & private institutions, research laboratories, impact investors, etc. under the unified umbrella of community protection.

International bodies like the WHO enforce global health and sanitation standards, UNICEF, Asian Development Bank, and USAID with active economic support grants, the Toilet board coalition in Geneva, etc. have deployed vast amounts of funds to address the Covid impact and improve the healthcare scenario across the world. They actively look for opportunities in companies or technological solutions that can create impact and achieve scale. They are instrumental in creating opportunities to work towards achieving community development goals and onboarding the best talent to do so.

In the face of an unprecedented contagion, knowledge is power. Research always has preceded the process to change, and evidence-based reporting is a vital prerequisite for any kind of decision-making. Various research opportunities have risen out of the pandemic, both for universities and corporates, with ample availability of funding institutions. With sanitation having been hidden in the shadows, it has now taken center stage, with focused research and a number of technological interventions rising in this space. Work is ongoing to fuse healthcare and sanitation by making multifunctional and gender-inclusive toilets capable of acting as a diagnostic center, having a breast-feeding facility, etc. The major hurdle lies in propelling these findings and innovations from academia to an industrial setting, which could make these a mainstream offering. Information should be made available to everyone, so it can be channeled towards the right intent.

India has seen an explosion of innovation during Covid, with portable toilets in cities, steel manufacturers making ventilators, and harnessing multiple industries to make and export PPE kits. There has been a greater motivation and sharpness in the execution of healthcare interventions in the country. However, there has been a lag in getting all the necessary stakeholders on the same page for systematic planning and execution of strategies. India is a diverse nation, with unique geographies having its own problems. There are water-scarce areas like the Palghar district in Maharashtra where access to water has to be integrated with safe sanitation. There are urban slums like Dharavi where over 10 lakh people reside within 2 square kilometers, making it a hotbed for infection. With the virus here to stay, there is no option but to tackle these issues step by step. There is great promise for the future of the healthcare and sanitation industry for the future given the current importance it holds. Despite all the institutional involvement, there is certainly one factor at the heart of this movement which will keep the momentum going – the community.