Recently, I came across two interesting articles on the same day
a. one related to Posters in Washroom (Brands Add a New P to Their Marketing Mix- ET 24th August 2012)
b. Bio Digesters technology developed by DRDO (Finally, a decent toilet - BL - 24th August 2012)
Today, everybody wants to be competitive and desires to be ahead of others in all walks of life. Majority of population is moving on with this kind of mind set is what I could read based on my interactions with cross section of people.
One place devoid of competition, mad rush is the Rest Room - an area where universally people are at peace and arent in a hurry to catch up with the next activity - a PP (peaceful private) room what i would call.
Corporates are drawing plans to grab customers mind share or attention at the 'PP room' now. So we need to wait and watch whether PP room would remain so or we need to identify a new room to be peaceful.
It was also heartening to read investments and developments from research organisations( like DRDO )to come up with Bio digesters which are now operational in eight long distance trains operated by Indian Railways.
Like a 100% literacy rate is a matter of pride, Lakshwadeep is attempting to become first
island/UT to adopt a sewage disposal system based on biological
treatment of human waste.
Need of the hour is active persuasion of corporates to invest for innovative solutions for a very important need of human beings across the world.
A few interesting facts emanated from the articles are shared below
- International surveys have shown that women spend an average of 105 seconds and men 55 seconds in the washroom
- Multiplex Theatres are partnering with firms like Zapak,Whisper and Piramal iSure for loo
ads
- 2012-13 Railway Budget, 10,000 bio toilets based on the DRDO bio digester technology would be installed
- the first patent for a flushing water closet was issued to Alexander Cummings in 1775
- The winner of the $100,000 prize out of 28 designs for Closet Designs was from the
California Institute of Technology which designed a toilet based on
solar power, generating hydrogen and electricity as well. The Gates
Foundation has committed $370 million to its future toilet initiative
and hopes to field-test the prototypes within three years
