In Ghichamura, a village in Odisha’s Sambalpur district, Sudam Paule’s family faced a challenge. For nine months, their toilet had been non-functional due to a filled pit, forcing them back to open defecation. Financial constraints and cultural beliefs about cleaning the pit left Sudam feeling helpless.

The #FeedbackFoundation, supported by the #JSWFoundation, intervened. Upon discovering Sudam’s toilet pit had been unused for nine months, they assured him that if any fecal matter was found, they would cover the cost of constructing a new pit. To everyone’s surprise, the pit contained only high-quality, odor-free compost.

Inspired, Sudam cleaned the pit himself, inviting neighbours to witness the process and breaking down cultural stigmas. His wife used the compost in their kitchen garden, enriching the soil and yielding better crops.

This intervention restored the functionality of Sudam’s toilet and introduced the community to sustainable sanitation practices. The compost significantly improved their garden’s productivity, turning waste into wealth.

Sudam expressed his gratitude: “Maintaining our toilet is both hygienic and environmentally beneficial. I am thankful to the Feedback Foundation and the JSW Foundation for their support, which improved our living conditions and changed our mindset towards sanitation.”

Sudam’s story highlights the transformative power of community engagement and education in overcoming cultural barriers and promoting sustainable sanitation solutions.