Nirmal Wari
The Nirmal Wari drive aims to address the issue of open defecation during the annual Pandharpur Wari pilgrimage by providing portable toilets to the mass gathering. The initiative not only focuses on the provision of toilets but also emphasizes the importance of their usage. By engaging volunteers, the Nirmal Wari initiative showcases effective strategies to prevent pollution caused by open defecation during the Wari.
Objectives
- Provide toilets along the Wari route to ensure access to proper sanitation facilities.
- Create awareness about the negative consequences of open defecation and actively promote the use of toilets and proper sanitation practices.
- Showcase the benefits of using toilets in rural areas through volunteer engagement, highlighting the positive impact of improved sanitation on the community.
Impact
The Nirmal Waari initiative has significantly improved sanitation and hygiene during the annual Pandharpur Wari. By providing mobile toilets along the wari route, the project has reduced post-wari migration and decreased medical cases by 75% compared to 2014 levels. In the last six years, approximately 43,000 volunteers have joined hands, contributing over 5,16,000 man-hours in raising sanitation awareness and deploying around 1,18,000 temporary toilets, which were used at least 1,50,000 times. The success of this initiative has established it as a replicable model for similar events across India, positively impacting sanitation standards, reducing medical issues, and promoting awareness through collaborative efforts.
Video which has been made for Nirmal Waari 2016.
United Nations Development Programme’s
Sustainable Goals aligned with Nirmal Waari
