Project Name: Technical Support Agency for Developing a Solid and Liquid Waste Management Model for Rural Sanitation in Rajasthan

Client: Water & Sanitation Program, World Bank

Partner Orgainsation(s): Ernst & Young, Indian Green Services, SKAT

The approach of the initiative is to implement integrated Solid & Liquid Resource Management (SLRM) methods that go beyond managing generated waste to preventing waste generation. Current resource flow uses excessive raw materials and generates piles of waste causing resource depletion. The initiative so far helped in evolving participatory process in the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) on solid and liquid management using cutting edge waste audit tool, solution scoping, and business planning methods. The DPRs have been approved by the Government of Rajasthan as one of the model participatory DPRs. The subsequent phase will see the implementation of the plan and documentation of learnings for developing the guidelines.

Project Name: Urban Services Monitoring System (UrSMS)

Client: The Rockefeller Foundation

As a part of the Rockefeller Foundation’s ACCCRN initiative Taru conceptualized & established a Short Message Service (SMS) enabled UrSMS for the Surat Municipal Coorporation. The objective of the UrSMS is to elevate the existing complaint & monitoring system to a much advanced as well as involving people participation. The main feature of the system is designed: to enable officials in SMC to view the map, data and relevant statistics on near real time basis; to enable decision makers to evaluate the performance and bottlenecks at various levels to take timely action. UrSMS has two components - Services Monitoring System and Complaint System. The system is designed on an efficient platform. System components include: Water supply complaint system; Solid waste complaints; Door to Door – Solid waste collection, Dead animal carcass, Waste Container Lifting, Drainage & Sewerage complaints; Health Department reporting system: Hospital/ Health centre to SMC. This intervention and system development for the urban local body aims towards improving the monitoring and grievance redressal system of Municipal services. This can also be used as an emergency two-way monitoring system during flood emergencies like floods.

Project Name: Promoting cool roof and passive ventilation concept in range of urban buildings

Client: The Rockefeller Foundation

As part of the ACCCRN resilience intervention project, the Rockefeller Foundation is supporting projects to improve indoor thermal comfort and reduce energy demands for low-income households in the Indian cities of Indore and Surat by identifying, piloting and mainstreaming cool roof and passive ventilation technologies to a range of urban buildings. The project aims to develop and disseminate cool roof and passive ventilation options to bring about citywide changes in energy conservation efforts. It is aimed that the options will cut across affordability ranges as well as types of roofs and walls, in order to bring about improved indoor comfort, especially for poor communities.