In Krishnaganj gram panchayat in Pohari block of Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district the Total Sanitation Campaign has inspired the village community to think beyond construction of toilets, and create a viable revenue model for community toilets. Situated 35 km from Shivpuri district headquarters on Sheopur road, Krishnaganj is a big village with a population of 2700. It is here that the panchayat worked upon the idea of a public toilet facility and created a model worth emulating. The panchayat building stands at the busiest place, adjacent to the bus stop from where private buses operate between Shivpuri Sheopur and Gwalior. This is a really busy place serving as a bus station for 15 villages. There were, earlier, no public conveniences here. This made things very difficult for the visitors as well as the local people, especially the women. "We, therefore, thought why not have a mini- Sulabh complex for their convenience and got Rs. 1.60 lakh sanctioned under the Total Sanitation Campaign. This was in addition to the contribution of Rs. 40,000 made by the general public. The complex became functional from 2007-08", said the sarpanch, Prithviraj Singh Jadon. "The biggest advantage is that our gram panchayat office building and Pohari block headquarters are just 100 metres away from the complex which has been named Swachhata Parisar (or Sanitation Premises) which has separate toilets and bathrooms for men and women", he added. It has worked wonders not only for the passengers but also for the local traders and at least one village boy who earns a sufficient amount from this complex to run his family. The panchayat has hired Raju, a local villager, on contract as the caretaker of the complex. Apart from the fixed monthly honorarium of Rs. 600 from the gram panchayat, Raju charges a nominal fee from the users. "I charge Rs. 2 per head for using the toilet and Rs. 5 for bathing and washing clothes and get enough to feed and take care of ny four-member family. The average daily income is about Rs.150", says Raju. The Swachhata Parisar is a boon not only for the visitors to the Krishnaganj but also for the local people. "I used to open my shop around 1 lam. Now I come early as I do not have to bother where I would freshen myself ", says Raju Rathore, a fruit vendor, adding, "this has increased my business by 20 to 25 percent". Ashok Goyal, a grocery trader, also feels the same. Local people like Ramua Jatav, Gopi Jatav, Rajia, Ramkali Bai, Bharosi, Narayan too are happy to have the facility. "It has come as a great relief. We can think of organizing a social function due to this facility", says Ashok Singh Rathore, a primary school teacher at the nearby Sonipura village. "There may not be many locations like that in Krishnaganj in the district to replicate this facility. But wherever possible such locations should be utilized", says RK Mishra, Shivpuri panchayat's chief executive officer. ?