HUL’s replicable Suvidha Centres pave the way for best-in-class and sustainable community sanitation.
In line with the country’s goals on Swachh Bharat Mission that revolutionised urban sanitation and waste management in India, HUL launched the Suvidha Centre initiative in 2016 in partnership with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). With 20 centres operational today, Suvidha demonstrates HUL’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and social responsibility. With the mission to foster an inclusive and equitable environment that embraces all genders, abilities, and diverse needs, Suvidha Centres have catalysed a transformative journey in community sanitation.
Suvidha is a pathbreaking model in the field of community well-being and sanitation; it demonstrates how public-private partnerships can help address sanitation challenges at scale.
Rohit Jawa, CEO and MD, Hindustan Unilever Limited
The Centres offer safe and dignified access to clean toilets, drinking water, showers and laundromat services to urban informal settlements in Mumbai. Today, Suvidha Centres cater to more than 5,00,000 people and have saved more than 180 million litres of water through water-saving technologies. There has been a ~50% reduction in the incidences of illnesses like gastrointestinal, diarrhoea, and Urinary Tract Infection (UTIs) in Suvidha users.
The sustainability of the initiative can be gauged from the fact that all Suvidha Centres break even operationally within nine months of inception. The design principles on which Suvidha Centres are built, such as inclusivity, safety, environmental sustainability, financial operations and maintenance can be replicated for any public sanitation and hygiene facility.
Challenges in community hygiene
One of the major challenges facing our world today is that of providing access to sanitation to all its people. As the world urbanises, many individuals move to cities in search of a livelihood. There are estimates that 1 in 4 people in the world will live in an informal urban settlement by 2030. Community Toilets present a practical alternative, especially where space constraints or lack of ownership rights make household toilets unfeasible.
However, Community Toilets frequently encounter a cycle of underutilisation driven by several factors: poor cleanliness leads to low user satisfaction and lack of ownership, which in turn results in reduced use, vandalism, and instability. These challenges directly impact the effective operation and maintenance of community sanitation services.
Breaking the cycle with Suvidha
The Suvidha Centres aim to break the cycle of underutilisation by establishing a virtuous model rooted in a holistic, human-centered design. These Centres prioritise the safety of women and children and foster strong community partnerships. Through robust community engagement and efficient operational processes, Suvidha Centres deliver high user satisfaction and improved health outcomes. Notably, all Suvidha Centres in Mumbai are self-sustaining in their operations.
Breaking the cycle of underutilised community toilets:
Inclusive design to leave no one behind
Suvidha Centres are accessible to all, with separate and specially designed facilities for women, children, and persons with disabilities, including ramps, handrails, and child-friendly amenities.
Safety for women and children
Enhanced security measures such as well-lit premises (night toilet facilities), CCTV cameras, security personnel, and panic buttons ensure safety.
Financial sustainability
Affordable services, especially laundry facilities and monthly toilet passes generate revenue, making each Centre self-sufficient within nine months.
Community engagement
Apart from community engagement before and during the construction of the Centre, an intensive community mobilisation program is also conducted to drive usage and a sense of ownership.
Behaviour change programme
Through community-based organisations, HUL conducts an integrated behaviour change programme on health, sanitation and nutrition messages, especially engaging the women and children in the community.
Standardised maintenance
Our facilities are cleaned six times a day ensuring hygiene and comfort for all. Our strong operations teams are trained repeatedly and are led by 65% women staff contributing to gender equity and empowerment.
Livelihood for the community
Suvidha Centres provide paid employment opportunities with fair and livable wages to the community to run, clean and manage the Centres. The model currently employs over 200 people at any given point in time.
Women-led teams
The model employs over 100 women today. All Staff are hired locally, with fair wages, fostering dignity and sustainability.
Sustainability
All Centres are powered by solar energy, bringing energy costs down by 50%. Through rainwater harvesting and greywater treatment, the centres have saved over 180 million litres of water till date, ensuring climate resilience.
A public private partnership for better public sanitation
The Suvidha Centre model is a public-private partnership with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), HSBC India and JSW Foundation. While the Centres are co-funded by HSBC India and JSW Foundation, BMC provides expertise and unwavering support in the development and implementation of the Suvidha model, playing a critical role in shaping the model into an inclusive and impactful solution.
Suvidha is an excellent model for public-private partners to come together and create powerful health and well-being outcomes for citizens. This model can be replicated and scaled across cities around the world.
Iqbal Singh Chahal, Commissioner, BMC, Mumbai
Our partnership with HUL is a demonstration of what we can achieve together to combat the pressing problems of urban sanitation. We look forward to continuing our efforts across the water, hygiene and sanitation value chain and would like to thank all involved stakeholders for their efforts and drive in making a difference.
Hitendra Dave, CEO, HSBC India
JSW Foundation has always believed in empowering local communities. This model provides comprehensive solutions to communities, providing inclusive and affordable access to not just basic sanitation needs, but also to clean drinking water, laundry services etc. CSR Foundations and governments alike must leverage their strengths to deliver replicable and scalable community models to help address such critical needs.
Ashwini Saxena, CEO, JSW Foundation
Transformative impact of Suvidha Centres
Through its inclusive design and sustainable operations, the Suvidha Centre initiative has had a transformative impact on the communities it serves, improving health, safety, and overall well-being.
Reach
5,00,000 people use our Suvidha Centres annually. Suvidha services have been utilised over 4.5 Crore times since inception, with more than 1 million visits each month.
Safety
98% of women believe Suvidha is safe for them and their children.
Health
~50% reduction in reported incidence of Diarrhoea & UTIs among Suvidha users.
Mental health
94% users reported that Suvidha improves mental well-being by reducing stress around toilet use/laundry even during climate events.
Financial inclusion
Families who use Suvidha save approximately Rs. 33,000 annually (through time saved and reduced medical costs).
Environment
Suvidha Centres are solar-powered and have saved 180 million litres of water cumulatively through water-saving technologies.
Return on Investment
The estimated return on investment for time saved by using Suvidha Centre services is ₹15 for every rupee invested in the centres.
These outcomes highlight the success of Suvidha Centres in promoting safety, health, and sustainability within urban communities.
Climate resilience at the heart of the model
A recent study by Dalberg Advisors (2025) also highlights the transformative impact of Suvidha's multi-faceted approach on building climate resilience across its communities (especially women). Suvidha bolsters climate-resilient sanitation systems and reduces community exposure to risk and hazards. The model, further, empowers its communities to tackle climate change while addressing vulnerability, thereby fostering circularity, sustainability, and inclusivity.
