It is one of 200 technologies produced by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) identified as for sale via the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
The national trade body and DRDO in October forged a four-year partnership to hawk dual-use military products as part of Premier Manmohan Singh's pledge in 2008 to offer defence technology spin-offs to the public, officials said.
The "bio-digester" is among 10 of the DRDO products put on the fast-track for sale to state governments and private companies, an Indian defence ministry official added.
"Our condition is to take any non-classified technology (that can be used) for the benefit of the common man," said Nirankar Saxena, Executive Director of FICCI's Centre for Technology Commercialisation, which heads the project.
The "bio-digester" toilet conceived by a DRDO unit in the city of Gwalior, works by mixing self-multiplying bacteria with human waste in specially-made tanks, resulting in the production of methane gas and water.
It was meant for Indian combat troops deployed on Siachen, a 6,300-metre-high (20,800-feet-high) glacier in disputed Kashmir where temperatures can fall up to to minus 50 degrees Celsius (minus 58 degrees Fahrenheit).
Experts say they believe some 5,000 soldiers are deployed on the frigid wasteland, where calm has prevailed since a 2003 ceasefire with rival Pakistan.
"Work on it began 15 years ago because excreta buried in snow by soldiers in the Siachen glacier polluted rivers when the ice melted," said scientist Vijay Veer of the Defence Research and Development Establishment, a DRDO unit.
The bacteria used in the mountain version of the toilet were originally found in Antarctica, but another cocktail can be used in the hot tropical plains where the need for toilets in India is most acute.
FICCI's Saxena said the Indian territory of Lakshadweep -- a cluster of islands -- has sought 12,000 bio-digesters at some 25,000 rupees ($550) a unit for a major housing project.
Other DRDO products include heat shields for trains and vehicles, windows that control light penetration, mosquito repellents and medical kits to tackle dengue and chikungunya, both insect-borne viruses.
They also plan to market a spray that guarantees to keep woollen clothes moth-free, affordable fire extinguishers and a body cream that keeps bed bugs away.
The DRDO also has high hopes for its "Heat Stabilised Narrow Fabrics and Cordages for Improved Elastic Recovery Property" which military boffins believe could be used in bras.
"The technology is a heat-stablised narrow fabric and the elastic in it is more robust than materials used in commercial brassieres," a DRDO official added.
COMMENTS (34)
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@forgive and forget: Useless to respond to cowards like Antanu "so called Indian"...he keep boasting that he'll revert with his address in many other forums as well..but never to be..i think he's yet to post the photos those "Only for Hindus", "Only for Muslims" hotels which he claims there are many in India..
@narayana murthy
Did you even read it? It just costs 25000 per unit and its not that much given its use.It can be used in Andaman & nicobar and small islands and remote places. DRDO can make a lot of money by selling it!
Govt can also provide this at subsidized prices in poor areas.
@G. Din: @narayana murthy: @Yuri Kondratyuk:
Sirs, let us debate more for constructive uplift of our society, but in our own space.
@Antanu
i will revert back with my full contact address at Kiolkata…if you wish to verify
KIOLKATA?? You gave yourself away again. Why are you so desperate?
I am just glad that the DRDO is preparing equipments which will keep Indian soldiers alive in Siachen, the highest battlefield in the World!!!
I hear that the number of casualties has decreased dramatically. DRDO has prepared body suits, shoes and spectacles and what not to protect them.
With this news we forget what its really about- Helping people. We are helping people who are willing to sacrifice their lives for their Country. In the process DRDO is also trying to help the poorest of the poor, which is very commendable indeed.
@narayana murthy: "While other developing or developed countries manufacture tankers, fighter jets, submarines…we manufacture toilets." And, sir, what is wrong with that? Or, did you want to wait until you could import one after others developed one for specific use on Siachen? Another point you have made about its affordability. Well, if it is not affordable, no one will buy it and unless they come up with an affordable version, that would be the end of story. But that in no way makes the original effort worthless for reasons primarily ecological. And, please avoid making frontal personal attacks. Such attacks are silly and do not serve any purpose other than massaging one's own ego!
Kudo's to the Indian army - nice to see a productive civilian use out of something created for the military. Pakistan should consider purchasing a large supply of these units -- should be part of your disaster relief efforts - better yet negotiate the purchase of the technology and build them yourselves.
@narayana murthy:
maybe u dint have a look at official websites of drdo, hal etc...we produce much more than toilets....ok its taken that some achievements are hyped...bt not all
Adnan says "After a failed combat aircraft manufacturing programme India’s defence capabilities finally being put to good use!"
This is the point I'm making.
While other developing or developed countries manufacture tankers, fighter jets, submarines...we manufacture toilets.
We might be better off than Pakistan because of our money, but we are not who we claim to be. We are still a third world country. A top defense research organization in any developing country can boast of better than toilets :)
After a failed combat aircraft manufacturing programme India's defence capabilities finally being put to good use!
@narayana murthy:
Sanatan Dharm is Sanatana Dharma as pronounced in Hindi(the script and spelling remain exactly same). And it's not a Hindi version, it's precisely the same in meaning. Eg: Neer isn't the Kannada version of the Sanskrit jala. It's rather the Kannada word for it. Besides, the only water that exists is H2O, whatever the name you call it by.
@narayana murthy:
Respected Sir, not to doubt your intellectual prowess, but, I am sure Mr. Nirankar Saxena knows what he is talking about.
FYKI The “bio-digester” toilet works by mixing self-multiplying bacteria with human waste in specially-made tanks, resulting in the production of methane gas and water.
And that isn't dependent on high altitudes to work. In fact, it should work better at lower altitudes where the relative humidity is higher and the temperatures warmer. In fact whatever special materials were used at higher altitudes might have been to maintain temperature and humidity.
@Antanu who says "And my dear at my position and status I have much more knowledge of Sanatan Dharm (Not Hinduism…there is no religion by this name) I am more than aware of various aspects there of.Tell me what do you know about Sanatan Dharma? Varmala and Mangalsutra do not form a religion…please cont confuse social rites with religion."
I'm sorry to burst your bubble again.
There is no such thing called as Sanatan Dharm. That's a Hindi version of the true name, which is Sanatana Dharma. Perhaps, you don't know Sanskrit, being a Pakistani and using wikipedia, extensively.
Good luck with your charade!!!!
@Anon: Of course the GOI can help in exploring and extracting gas in Pakistan since latest infrastructure is available with govt ONGC and a private company named Reliance Industries Limited.
@narayana murthy: And my dear at my position and status I have much more knowledge of Sanatan Dharm (Not Hinduism...there is no religion by this name) I am more than aware of various aspects there of.Tell me what do you know about Sanatan Dharma? Varmala and Mangalsutra do not form a religion...please cont confuse social rites with religion.
@narayana murthy: Mr.Murthy I do'nt need to prove my nationality...but I am not an imposter like you. Think whatever you feel due to your biased mind.As for my nationality is concerned, please give me your mail id and i will revert back with my full contact address at Kiolkata...if you wish to verify.
can it somehow produce CNG!
We are not getting into consumer goods in an open market. Our forces are real estate Barons and have one up on Indian forces!
@Yuri Kondratyuk
I don't think you have the slightest idea of what you are talking about.
It's a military equipment, developed for using in hostile terrain.
It will be damn expensive for a commoner to afford. Social hygiene? Well, someone from Dharavi can never afford it. There will be no social hygiene from this equipment.
Guess these things went beyond your brain huh?
By the way, there's nothing to be proud of here. It's a toilet. It's a toilet that's useful for difficult terrain. It's not rocket science.
It is a welcome development... But still look at the way they are presenting it...Only if we make things look good, we can easily sell it to others... People of the sub-continent are good in creative thinking but i dont know when we are going to learn to make things look beautiful and market it to others...
basically it is a start of a new consumer-industrial trend for DRDO and the toilet was hi-lighted as it was the most interesting and attention getting . Great move by MMS to be flexible and innovative enough to overcome whatever objections, obstacles and red-tape there might have been to get this kind of thing going and jolly sporting of AFP and express tribune to let us know about it !
@narayana murthy:
I don't understand your tendency to loath yourself. But, please don't abuse the people who see the productive side of the issue. BTW, an accessible toilet has major consequences in terms of social hygiene, restriction of spread of contagious diseases and expenditure on curative medicine. More so for a country like India.
You need to see beyond toilet humor once in a while.
@Acorn Guts:
An excellent example is when DRDO utilized the light and high strength materials developed for space research to make lighter (and more comfortable) walking braces.
and i thought my poop is just waste of time lol
@Antanu...for a Pakistani who doesn't know the difference between a Vermala and Varamala and a Mangalasuthra, u try too hard to be an Indian. Nice try!
A really good example by India..where billions spent on defense infrastructure can be put to use of common people. Some might find it funny but its a brilliant technology which can reduce a lot of epidemics in pakistan as well. Wish our defense industry did something similar rather and importing everything from China and putting a made in pakistan label on it.
@narayana murthy: A new development is always welcome. You should not ridicule it.its a unique technology very useful for soldiers stationed at unfriendly climates.Well done DRDO.
its a actually a good thing, and we should look into it too
I don't see anything funny. I see tons of useful R&D by defence department being offered up for benefit to the general public. Our misfortune is that we can only read the word toilet and snigger but we don't see the traits of a flourishing nation that is pushing boundaries when it comes to defence technology but at the same time caring for its masses. Kudos to India.
@Yuri Kondratyuk: funny !!!! :p
@narayana murthy: If it's so NICE why don't to buy one?
Whats purpose of this news to be published on ET? You want us buy from India or make us feel jealous?
That's just... priceless. It's not about good/bad, it's just funny how this exchange makes headlines as opposed to what you'd normally see reported in military-related exchanges. I know any type of friendly interraction between Pakistan and India is enough to make the news. But, of all things... It's impossible to have seen this one coming.
NICE. so we buy submarines and build toilets.