The unique toilet, called ‘Gramkranti Eco-Bio toilets’ has a conventional seat with a small size tank (2 x 2.25 x 2.25 cuft). The tank design is configured to attain highly efficient in-situ decomposition of excreta with the help of a patented bacterial culture. “The work is done by this culture. To put it simply, this bacterial culture eats the human excreta, and the colourless, odourless water that we get is that bacteria’s excreta," Joshi says. Unlike the output from urinals or open sewage, the by-product from this toilet prevents flies and mosquito larva from breeding. Those who don’t want to use it as pesticide can either sell it or simply drain it away in conventional drains. 

 

Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Rural Industrialisation, Wardha, has certified that the tank used is hygienic and suitable for low-cost latrine usage. The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur has examined the tank output and certified that it is safe for human health. Panjabrao Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola has certified that the output liquid has sufficient NPK contents and micro-nutrients to be used as organic pesticide.

Joshi installed the first such toilet almost 30 years ago and he remembers how difficult was it to convince people to use it. However, slowly it gained acceptance. In three decades, Joshi has installed about 12,000 toilets across Amravati district and neighbouring areas. The toilet has been installed at about 50 government schools in Daryapur tehsil. The only publicity it received was through word-of-mouth. Inspired by the Swachh Bharat campaign, Joshi has decided to popularise the toilet even more. 

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