Thousands of commuters using public buses and other vehicles require such facilities when they are away from their homes. During last 25 years the idea of community toilet facilities has gradually spread to many other areas, like pilgrim places, on major highways, in public hospitals, at railway stations, bus stations etc. Not only that, but a silent revolution had developed in this sector as evidenced by construction of very good toilet complexes along with bath facilities.

Such facilities are being maintained on “Pay & Use” method, and it has been observed that people at large appreciate such facilities and willingly pay an amount for using the same. However the ratio of the public and the corresponding toilet is not equal.

Even considering that encouragement of the pay-and-use facilities could be effectively implemented by the State to further the cause of sanitation by introducing statutory penalties against random defecation and urination in areas of public traffic and assembly, the measure would be valid only if there are clean and sufficient alternatives available to the general public.

It is precisely this scenario that validates the importance of the work of NASA.

Moreover, the economics of public toilet facility is equally important in executing the need, for the Pay & Use concept could become a reality only when maintenance was being done by a different staff of the agency, and who are being paid differently.

Picture the 80s, when the idea of creating and maintaining public sanitation system on “Pay & Use” basis was new for Gujarat. At that time Mr. Sooryakant Parikh, the Chairman of NASA, was involved in the field of alternative energy sources, and was a member of the governing council of Gujarat Energy Development Agency. The Government of India under the Ministry of Energy was keen to generate biogas from human excreta, and sent notices to various state governments that it was ready to give full grant for such biogas plants during 1983-84.

The GEDA welcomed the Government’s interest and decided to implement the biogas generation from human excreta in community sanitation facilities. As a member Mr. Parikh visited all the locations and was convinced of the feasibility of such a project in Gujarat. From then onwards his belief in the community sanitation system was strengthened—that biogas from human excreta was possible. Before long he founded an organization—NASA—in Gujarat to focus on public sanitation system.

Moreover, there were other objectives before NASA —

• In maintaining the facilities better methods must be used for safai workers.

• All such government & semi-government bodies should be convinced to provide such services to people by creating infrastructure to suit such a need.

Originally organization’s name was “National Sanitation & Bhangi Mukti Foundation” registered under Public Trust Act and Society Registration Act in Gujarat, which was the first of its kind in Gujarat. Mr. Parikh convinced some to his organization.