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MILESTONES

2022

Padma Shri Award for Social Work to Mr. S. Damodaran, Founder Gramalaya

2020 - 2021

Covid’19 Response Distributed Corona relief Materials – Hygiene Kits, Oxygen cylinders and Reusable Sanitary Pads

2020

A teen aged girl selected for visiting NASA in the USA, promoted 125 household toilets with bathroom (SMART Toilet model of Gramalaya) with the motivation and support from Gramalaya under a CSR initiative. This has created revolutionary change in the toilet habits of rural people in Pudukottai District of Tamil Nadu.

2019

ATK Nagar in Uppliyakudi panchayat, a rural area was declared as 100% household toilets covered village in Pudukottai District where 100% of the women and adolescent girls using eco-friendly reusable menstrual cloth pads -first of its kind in India.

2018

Ward number 11 in Musiri Town panchayat was declared as India’s first urban area by Gramalaya where 100% of the menstruating women and adolescent girls are using eco-friendly cloth pads.

2017

Toilet Titan Award to Mr S. Damodaran was given by the Vice-President of India under Safaigiri Awards 2017 at New Delhi on 2nd October 2017

2016 - 2019

Declared more than 10 villages as Open defecation free in Telangana State with the support of District Administration announced by District Collectors.

2016

India`s cheapest reusable cloth menstrual pad was designed and introduced by Gramalaya with the broader aim of providing employment opportunity, menstrual health education and emancipation from MHM related health issues for women and adolescent girls.

2013

The Ministry of Drinking water and sanitation, Government of India, New Delhi approved Gramalaya as one of the National Key Resource Centers (KRC) to provide training on water and sanitation to government officials and NGOs in South India.

2012

The concept of Urban sanitation program of Gramalaya was acknowledged in the Twelfth Five Year plan document 2012 to 2017 as Faster, More Inclusive and Sustainable Growth Volume 1 of the document in page number 164 Box 5.4 by Government of India as one of role model projects in India

2011

Microfinance for rural women introduced by Gramalaya through Business Facilitator model and proved as one of the lowest operational cost models at an affordable interest rate to rural women for IGP activities.

2010

Urban Water Award from Government of India was received by Gramalaya for the best practices in slum sanitation program in Tiruchirappalli

2006

Mr S. Damodaran, Founder of Gramalaya wrote more than 10 hygiene songs for children which are famous among school children in the rural and urban areas

2005 - 2015

The concept of Microfinance for sanitation and water was introduced and successfully implemented by Gramalaya which encouraged more than 100 MFIs and NGOs in India to provide MFI loans for sanitation and water

2005

The District Collector of Tiruchirappalli gave the Best NGO Award to Gramalaya on the occasion of Independence Day

2004

India`s first Centre for Toilet Technology and Training with 24 toilet designs was established at Gramalaya Training Centre

2003

Gramalaya declared Thandavampatti village in Tiruchirappalli District as India’s first open defecation Open Defecation Free village in 2003. Thandavampatti village in Aaraichi panchayat in Thathiangarpet block of Tiruchirappalli district became the first rural habitation in India to totally prevent open defecation

2002

Gramalaya declared Kalmandhai as India’s first open defecation free (ODF) slum in Tiruchirappalli City Corporation in the year 2002 followed by 187 slums as ODF announced with the support of Tiruchirappalli City Corporation and donor agencies

2001 - 2020

Declared more than 300 villages in South India as Open Defecation Free under Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach

2000 - 2010

Declared 187 slums as open defecation free in Tiruchirappalli City Corporation

2000 - 2003

Child friendly toilets of various type designs introduced in the urban slums of Tiruchirappalli City- first time in India by Gramalaya

2000 - 2001

SHG managed Pay and use community toilets system was introduced by Gramalaya - first time in the country

1997

A curriculum for school health program was developed by Gramalaya with a number of IEC materials which is replicated and used by other NGOs working in the sector

1994

Since 1994, Gramalaya have been involved in the school sanitation program, under which more than 500 girl’s friendly school toilet complexes were constructed in South India

1991

Gramalaya Training Centre was established at Kolakkudipatti village in a rural setting at Thottiyam Block of Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu

1989 - 2020

Implemented the CRSP - Central Rural Sanitation Program, TSC, NBA and SBM program of Central and State Government and promoted 100% sanitation covered model villages in the rural areas

1989 - 1994

Successfully implemented the Low-cost Sanitation-cum-scavengers Rehabilitation Program in Thiruchengode and Rasipuram Municipality. For more than 30 years, the 5000 household toilets are under usage and maintenance by the families

1987

Gramalaya NGO was founded by Mr S. Damodaran with the HQ at Tiruchirappalli City