(Only?) Markets can provide for sanitation services in India.

A recent UN study has found that cell phones are more common in India than toilets. Private sector has ensured the availability of cell phones at prices that are attractive to the masses in India. Had it been for the public sector telephony would still have been the privilege of the elite. Sanitation (toilets) in India has been treated as a merit or a public good - something that the private sector cannot provide for.

It may be worthwhile to explore the business model of DMT mobile toilets (http://www.dmttoilet.com/aboutus.htm ). DMT is a for profit entity that has exploited technology to make available mobile toilets. Quite clearly these toilets are easy to maintain and require significantly lower investments as compared to the fixed structures that we have in India. While Sulabh was a pioneering concept, the technological model needs to be evolved. Also, a transparent for-profit model will ensure that these services are provided for adequately.

(I am sure CKP would have wanted to do a case study on DMT. I hope I am able to write one and post it on this blog as a remembrance post.)