Centre for Sustainable Development

Centre for Sustainable Development is a non-profit organisation established in 2009, registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act. It was formed by social activists, experienced community leaders, and grassroots workers to support sustainable sanitation and alternative livelihoods for rural and urban communities in Cuddalore and Theni districts of Tamil Nadu. CSD works closely with district administration, including support to the Swachh Bharat Mission, and partners with international and domestic organisations on sanitation, water, waste management, and afforestation projects.

Major Areas of Work

• WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene): Ecological sanitation, school sanitation, hygiene education, and safe drinking water access.
• Environmental Sustainability: Afforestation, biodiversity conservation, and solid waste management.
• Rural Livelihoods: Vocational training and livelihood support, particularly for women and disadvantaged youth.
• Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation: Emergency sanitation support following floods and other disasters in Cuddalore district.
• Agricultural Research: Long term research on eco-sanitation based agricultural inputs.

Major Initiatives & Programmes

• Eco-San (Ecological Sanitation) Toilets: CSD was the first organisation to promote Eco-San toilets in Cuddalore district, treating human waste as an agricultural resource rather than pure waste, in partnership with Sanitation First India and the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Cuddalore.
• DEWATS (Decentralised Wastewater Treatment Systems) and Biogas Toilet Complexes: Built with support from France based Kynarou across six villages in Theni district.
• School Sanitation and Hygiene Education: Construction of school sanitation blocks and hygiene education programmes across schools in Cuddalore and Chennai, supported by Wherever the Need India Services (WTNIS).
• Afforestation Project: Run in partnership with SIPCOT and the Hyundai Motor India Foundation at Irungattukottai, Chennai.
• Solid Waste Management: Household collection, segregation, and composting programme in Marikundu panchayat, supported by Kynarou.
• Inner City Sanitation Project: Sanitation support for slum residents and Sri Lankan refugee camps in Cuddalore, supported by Sanitation First India and the Lebara Foundation.

Impact

Since 2009, CSD has built around 650 Eco-San household toilets in Cuddalore, constructed 13 school sanitation blocks reaching 8,500+ students, and run hygiene programmes across 35 schools that improved hygiene behaviour by 36.2 percent. Its DEWATS and water filter units now serve over 20,000 people in Theni district, cutting water borne disease by up to 47 percent, and its afforestation work with Hyundai Motor India Foundation maintains nearly 5,000 saplings.

Partners

• Sanitation First India / Sanitation First UK
• District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Cuddalore
• Kynarou (France)
• Wherever the Need India Services (WTNIS), Pondicherry
• Hyundai Motor India Foundation, SIPCOT
• Lebara Foundation, Chennai
• Government of Tamil Nadu / Swachh Bharat Mission

CSD suits people who want direct, grassroots field experience in sanitation, water, and rural development rather than desk based or policy only roles, since most of its work involves hands on construction, training, and community mobilisation in villages and schools. It appeals to people motivated by measurable, on the ground impact in underserved rural and slum communities, and to those interested in an organisation with over 15 years of continuous, community rooted WASH and environmental work, backed by a mix of Indian and international partners.