Alfred Herrhausen Gesellschaft - Das internationale Forum der Deutschen Bank - 2. Triratna Prerana Mandal

The Triratna Prerana Mandal started out sixteen years ago, just as a group of boys hanging out together in the slum areas of Milan Subway, in Mumbai’s Santa Cruz neighbourhood. In 2002, it transformed into a ‘CBO’ or ‘Community-Based Organisation’, which in Mumbai parlance means a residents’ association of slum-dwellers that partners with the local government in civic activities. TPM registered as a CBO as a part of the World Bank funded, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM)-led and SPARC implemented slum sanitation programme, which sought to increase the availability and improve facilities in the toilets of Mumbai.

The idea was that public toilets, which were usually not maintained and in awful conditions, would be constructed by MCGM and maintained by local residents through a CBO. TPM was to maintain the toilets constructed for the residents of the Milan Subway shantytown. But TPM didn’t just maintain toilets. It utilised the toilet premises to set up its offices from where it started a range of activities. The first-floor of the toilet complex now serves as a space for a computer-lab, from which computer classes are run, for providing English-language tuitions, and as a child-care centre. In addition, the space is used as a kitchen where women are employed to cook food as a part of the government’s school mid-day meal scheme. TPM also runs women’s self-help and skills groups, training women to better manage their finances.

It even helps the local government with waste management through waste collection, classification and composting. The composted fertiliser is used in local gardens. TPM plans to improve a large park in its neighbourhood, and convert a derelict amphitheatre in the park to a local cultural centre. It also plans to set up a bio-gas plant for more efficient localised management of waste. It aims to improve its computer and educational facilities, also by increasing cooperation with the local municipal school to help improve the quality of education and reduce the dropout rate.

Contact
Dayanand G. Mohite, Dayanand Jadhav   
tpm_1402@rediffmail.com