A Study on

Performance of Private Latrine Producer (PLP)

in Dishari area

January 2008

Prepared by
Engr. Mohammad Ali
Project Engineer

Decentralized Total Sanitation Project (Dishari)

A project of Dhaka Ahsania Mission
Implemented with joint support of
Plan Bangladesh, WaterAid Bangladesh and WSP-World Bank
Introduction:

Bangladesh started its intervention in the rural sanitation sector in the mid-1960s.
However, it is only since the mid-1990s, with the incorporation of social mobilization
activities, promotion of a demand driven approach and institution of community
participation that some hope has been raised about reaching the sanitation goal.

Piles of concrete ring and slabs on the highway roadsides, is a common scenario in
present Bangladesh. This is a result of the sanitation movement that has been
conducted by national NGOs, donor agencies, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB)
and the private sector for the last two decades.

Nevertheless, in the 1990s, this situation changed. WatSan actors started to

concentrated on saniation aspects and a shift in attention towards sanitation took place
at the commencement of the present (2000-2010) decade. During the 1990 a new actor
from the private sector appeared in the rural sanitation sector. This actor is the Private
Latrine Producer (PLP), popularly know in Bangladesh as the Village Sanitation Center
(VCS). Nearly 4200 private producers (VSCs) are present in rural Bangladesh. (A.R.
Quzi, A.A.Pramani, 2004). The majority of production centers located in rural areas, but
are also preferred by the majority of people as provider. These PLP not only produce
latrine materials but also a good number of different necessary materials like stove, land
demarcation etc. (Appendix-B)

Dishari (Decentralised Total Sanitation Project) started its journey in early 2004 to
develop a Upazilla Total sanitation model with sanitation as the entry point and
gradually integrating health, nutrition and education with the implementation process.
Dishari is a Joint initiative of Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM), Plan Bangladesh,
WaterAid Bangladesh and Water and Sanitation Program (WSP)-World Bank for
making contribution to National Sanitation Ptrogramme. Dishari started its journey with
Plan Bangladesh, WSP-WB and DAM since the beginning. WaterAid Bangladesh joined
Dishari in April 2005. Geographical coverage of Dishari is given below table.
 Division District Upazilla # of Dev Partners
Unions
WAB PLAN
Dhaka Dhaka Gazipur 9 Jul-04
Jamalpur Jamalpur Sadar 15 July 2005
Melandah 12
Bakshiganj 4 Jul-06
Rajshahi Dinajpur Khansama 6 July 2005
Chirirbandar 12
Nilphamari Jaldhaka 12
Lalmonirhat Hatibandha 10 Jul-04
2 5 8 80

Objective of the Study:

To identify the performance of PLP in case of knowledge, production quality and
business mechanism.

Targeted Area:
All 80 unions of 5 upazillas of whole Dishari working area has been selected as a
targeted area.

Study Period:
The study took two months to complete. The duration of the study was from September
2007 to October 2007.

Methodology of the Study

Questionnaire formulation:
A questionnaire (Appendix- A) was developed and send that to all eighty unions to
collect information.

Survey Conduct:
With the final questionnaire field staff according do the survey to their respective
working area and submitted to upazilla office. Upazilla team do sample basis cross
check and finally send to the head office for completion and reporting.

Analysis and comments

80 surveyed unions only 201 active PLP found. Among 201 PLP not all of them got
training, have clear knowledge about hygiene latrine, concept of total sanitation, can
produce qualitative product, or how is business going on before and after declaration.
All this analysis has been given below in graphically with comments.
Graphical analysis Comments
A very small percentage of PLP owner
are women. To reduce poverty special
PLP training should be arranged for
women.

Almost halves of PLP owner are

producing sanitation materials without
have training to maintain their quality
production. Need personal contact/
discussion for more counseling those
who not yet have training.

DPHE and others NGO can play the

vital roll to build up the capacity of PLP
through providing qualitative training.

Figure shows that 86% qualitative

production have been produced after
receiving training but still 14% don’t
follow the standard to keep the quality.
Training provider can monitor the
production materials in a certain
frequency.
Use of waterseal can be conform by
including the priece while selling a set
of latrine. Counseling session should be
conducted with PLP owner by Upazilla
team.

It is essential to show how to set a water

seal with the pan. Properly set a water
seal is one way to conform a latrine as a
hygiene one. Should ensure 100%, how
customer can set waterseal.

Ensure refresher training for those who

got training and provide full length
training for those don’t have yet.

Knowledge of PLP staff is also very

essential which can also improve by
providing training.
Total sanitation knowledge can give
PLP give more dimensions to produce
including latrine materials.

Through communication with other PLP

a PLP owner can have idea about market
demand and needs of others sanitation
materials and make it available locally.

A PLP owner can have a scope to know

to the activities status of water &
sanitation taskforce community.

Rural Sanitation Engineer (RSE) which

is developed by Dishari, playing good
technical support to the community and
from whom PLP can get information
about community demand.
As per government target each UP has
20% ADP is to be engaged for sanitation
purpose. As entrepreneur PLP is to
produce sanitation materials widen the
relation of secretary of UP can help to
make a plan for smooth business.

Status of sanitation of the respective

community can help to set the daily
production rate of PLP. To increase the
business each PLP should increase their
monitoring.

Potentially is the key of success in

business. Collecting information of
uncovered area and move with the own
resource to fulfill the others community
requirement.

Education status of the PLP poor, its

very essential for them to keep list
information of their income and
spending cost. They need skills on
income & spending cost of production
materials. Training is needed for them.
 Availability of demonstration latrine
with price can help customer to choose
their latrine considering their ability and
PLP don’t have to stick with two
models. In this case PLP can take
technical assistant from Dishari.

Up gradation model should be promoted

for sustainable system. So financial
support activities should be taken.

UP/NGOs financial support to

community for up gradation model
should be arranged.

Recommendation:
PLP training should be redesign on the basis of above mentioned comments and ensure training
for all PLP owners and staff.
 Appendix - B
PLP produce different materials

Ring (RCC) for latrine Slab with plastic pan for latrine

Fodder Bowl (chari) Drainage Pipe

Different type of ventilator Stove

(Ventilating Blocks)

Demarcation pillar (ail) Garden flower Top