सुलभ के संस्थापक डॉ. विन्देश्वर पाठक नहीं रहे pic.twitter.com/3EDCtAZtqs
— Sulabh International Social Service Organisation (@SulabhIntl) August 15, 2023
Born on April 2, 1943, in Rampur village of Vaishali district in Bihar, Bindeshwar Pathak established Sulabh International in 1970. The organization has since been involved in providing sanitation facilities across the nation, with around 50 thousand volunteers contributing to this cause. He graduated in sociology from Patna University in 1964.
Pathak’s early life was marked by the absence of proper sanitation facilities. The house he grew up in had nine rooms but lacked even a single toilet. He witnessed the plight of women who had to endure the challenges of holding back defecation throughout the day. Despite attending four schools, none of them had toilets.
In 1968, Pathak began working as a social worker for the Bihar Gandhi Birth Centenary Celebrations Committee, during which he developed a unique compost toilet system in 1968.
Under the banner of Sulabh International, he introduced ‘pay and use’ toilets in 1974. By 1980, when the organization was renamed Sulabh International Social Service Organization, its reputation had extended beyond national boundaries.
Pathak’s academic pursuits persisted during this period. He obtained his post-graduation degree in 1980 and earned his PhD in 1985. His remarkable contributions were recognized with awards such as the Padma Bhushan in 1991, Energy Globe, Indira Gandhi, and Stockholm Water awards. He was also bestowed with the Akshay Urja Award from the International Renewable Energy Organization (IREO) in 2009. Moreover, in 2016, the Ministry of Railways appointed him as the brand ambassador for the ‘Clean Rail Mission’.
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