Hyderabad: If you have a will, you get the pathways to find solutions to even the most complex problems. Having been a Municipal Commissioner for many years, IAS officer Hari Chandana Dasari had first-hand experiences of sanitation and need for hygiene. Drawing attention to the alarming rates of ovarian cancer and other health issues stemming from poor sanitation, Dasari shares her insights into the transformative power of the She Toilets project.

In an exclusive interview with Bureaucrats India, Dasari, currently District Magistrate of Nalgonda, said that during her previous stint at Narayanpet she had noted that there were weekly markets in different locations and access to toilets for villagers, especially women, was a major issue. “Given that these markets shifted locations every week, as per local customs, there was a challenge of providing toilets at every location.” It is then that she came up with the idea of mobile toilets - old, dilapidated buses would be refurbished to serve this purpose. And these could travel to each of these markets.
 

Leveraging her experience and expertise, she spearheaded the conversion of old buses into bio-toilets, equipped with biodigesters and solar roofing, ensuring sustainable and eco-friendly sanitation solutions. “However, the initiative went beyond mere infrastructure. Recognizing the economic potential of the project, we collaborated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs), empowering women to operate the mobile toilets while simultaneously running adjacent shops selling textiles and handicrafts. This dual-purpose approach not only provided clean facilities but also created livelihood opportunities for women, addressing the need for safe sources of income,” added Dasari, a 2010 batch officer and now serving as Collector and District Magistrate of Telangana’s largest district - Nalgonda.

Dasari's emphasis on experimentation and collaboration proved instrumental in the initiative's success. By engaging local communities and tailoring solutions to their specific needs, She Toilets became a beacon of hope for women across Telangana. Recognising its transformative power, the state government replicated it across the state by converting 200 buses into mobile toilets. The project's recognition as one of the best models under the Swacch Bharat Mission further cemented its impact and paved the way for its expansion statewide.

As Dasari reflects on the journey, she underscores the importance of holistic solutions in tackling complex social issues. Through She Toilets, women not only gained access to clean and safe sanitation but also found economic empowerment and dignity. With hundreds of mobile toilets now serving communities across Telangana, Dasari's vision has transformed hygiene and livelihoods for countless women, leaving a lasting legacy of empowerment and progress.

(With inputs from Sshivam Jha)

Watch her complete interview with Bureaucrats India