Mumbai: Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) along with HSBC India announced the launch of the 14th Suvidha Centre in partnership with the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation).

Suvidha centres are a one-stop solution for meeting the hygiene and sanitation requirements of low-income communities by providing them with access to clean toilets, purified drinking water, showers and laundry services. Launched in 2016, there are 14 such centres in Mumbai, equipped with over 550 toilet seats. This initiative is the result of a pioneering public-private partnership of HUL, HSBC India and the BMC and it positively impacts the lives of over 350,000 people each year.

Emphasizing inclusivity and safety, these centres are designed to prioritize the well-being of women and children, incorporating features such as ample lighting, security cameras, and an emergency panic button system. Additionally, these centres save over 100 million litres of water cumulatively through greywater treatment and recycling.

Furthermore, over 98 per cent of women find Suvidha to be safe, with 75 per cent of women users reporting that Suvidha has saved them time, allowing for better quality time with their families. Additionally, 91 per cent of users have attested to Suvidha's positive impact on their self-esteem, according to an external impact assessment study.

HUL CEO & managing director Rohit Jawa said, “The state-of-the-art Suvidha Centres foster holistic health and wellbeing of all citizens by providing them affordable access to safe toilets, clean drinking water, showers and laundry services. With the expansion of the Suvidha Model in Dharavi (a total of three now), we, along with our partners BMC and HSBC India, remain committed to transforming community hygiene and sanitation services for all.”

HSBC India general manager & CEO Hitendra Dave said, “The expansion of the Suvidha model in Dharavi is a significant milestone in our partnership with HUL and BMC. It enables us to provide and transform hygiene and sanitation services for those who have limited or no access to sanitation facilities in Mumbai. We are happy to be able to contribute towards addressing urban sanitation issues in densely populated areas like Dharavi. We remain committed to various causes of community development and look forward to working with like-minded partners for the greater benefit of the society.”