Terre Des Hommes

Regullanka, a sleepy village nestled in the Krishna river’s flood-prone riverbank in Andhra Pradesh, earned a rare distinction. For the first time in Asia, residents of the entire village have embraced an innovative, eco-friendly, waterless toilet – the EcoSan toilet. This toilet changes their life forever. More than 50 % of people practice open defecation in India, compared to 1 % in China. The absence of a toilet can lead to significant public health issues. Human excreta contain a very high level of bacteria, which, due to open defecation, can easily contaminate water sources. This dirty water is a direct source of malnutrition, affecting one child out of 4. And having their private toilet increases the women’s safety.