Tell us about SANA.
The founder of Social Awareness Newer Alternatives (SANA), a water and sanitation provider to rural India, on winning the Google Impact Award
Tell us about SANA.
It’s an NGO that ensures supply of water and sanitation to rural Andhra Pradesh and Delhi with the help of micro-ionised solar water purifiers and bio-digester toilets.
What was it like winning the Google Impact Award based on public polling?
To have received the Google impact Award based on a public poll was unexpected, as most people who know us do not have the facilities to vote.
What do you plan to do with the Rs 3-crore prize money?
It’ll go into our three-year plan of providing 54 million litres of water and 200 community toilets in Delhi and Andhra Pradesh.
What was the idea behind setting up SANA?
I was helping my father with a documentary on social intervention for farmers in Gulbarga in 2011 when I decided to set it up.
What makes it stand apart from the rest?
With the help of panchayats, we train local people to ensure smooth functioning of the project once we’ve set up the infrastructure.
Tell us about your biggest project, on water.
Water is the root cause of problems, including caste and class barriers. It seemed like the right point to begin our bottom-up approach.
Why did you want to integrate solar water purifiers and bio-digester toilets?
These toilets will produce gas and water as byproducts, which will be used for electricity and irrigation respectively.
Why did you opt for Delhi and Andhra Pradesh?
They say charity begins at home.
What’s next on your agenda?
Apart from the toilet-to-tap Yamuna project, we will also lay the ground for a water and sanitation project in Afghanistan.
Other interests?
Travelling, gardening and baking.