7.7. Extending Sanitation Facilities

Besides safe drinking water, sanitation is a must in prevention of water-borne diseases. However, the sanitation coverage in India is even lower than that of water. Official figures for 2011 show that 87 percent of the households in India have access to drinking water and about 53 percent have access to sanitation (toilet facilities within the premises of residence). Once again, it is the poor both in the rural and urban areas who lack access to sanitation.

Sanitation is crucial because it helps prevent diseases that can be transmitted through contaminated water and inadequate waste disposal. While a significant majority of households in India have access to safe drinking water (87%), only a little over half (53%) have access to adequate sanitation facilities such as toilets. This disparity is especially pronounced among the poorer segments of society, who often lack necessary sanitation.

Imagine a neighborhood where clean drinking water is flowing but people have to go to the bathroom in the open. Just like how a house needs both clean rooms and bathrooms to be liveable, communities need both good water supply and sanitation facilities to be healthy and safe.

Sulabh, a non-government organisation, has been working for nearly five decades to address the problems of sanitation facing low-caste, low-income people in India. It has constructed more than 8,500 community toilet blocks and 1.5 million household toilets, giving access to sanitation to 20 million people. The majority of the users of Sulabh facilities are from the poor working class.

Sulabh is an NGO committed to improving sanitation, especially for marginalized communities. Over its years of operation, it has constructed a vast number of toilets, including community toilet blocks and private household toilets. This effort has substantially improved access to sanitation for millions of people, particularly those in lower income brackets who are often left out of development projects.

Think of Sulabh like a dedicated teacher who sets up libraries in underprivileged schools. While some schools have beautiful libraries, many lack even basic books. Sulabh builds toilets for those without access, ensuring that everyone can have a clean and safe place to use the restroom, just as a library provides resources for learning.

Sulabh enters into contracts with municipalities or other local authorities to construct toilet blocks with government funds. Local authorities provide land and funds for setting up the services, whereas maintenance costs are sometimes financed through user charges (for example, ₹2 is charged for use of the latrines in the cities).

Sulabh collaborates with local governments to enhance sanitation access. Local authorities contribute by providing land and financial support, while Sulabh handles the construction of the toilets. Some costs for maintaining these facilities may come from small user fees, ensuring that travelers and city residents can afford the convenience of clean toilets.

This partnership is like a community project where friends pool their money to buy a shared bicycle for everyone to use. The local authorities provide the space, and Sulabh builds the toilets while charging a small fee so that upkeep is affordable for the community.

Do you think that lack of access to proper sanitation facilities affects peoples’ lives? How? Why do you think that this would impact women and girls more acutely?

Lack of sanitation facilities significantly affects people's health and dignity. Without access to clean toilets, individuals are at higher risk of contracting diseases. Additionally, women and girls are particularly vulnerable; they may face harassment when seeking privacy outdoors, which can impact their safety and wellbeing. This situation makes it more challenging for them to attend work or school, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality.

Imagine a school with no restrooms. Children, especially girls, may avoid going to school, fearing they won't have a safe place to go when nature calls. This is similar to how lack of sanitation limits educational opportunities and can lead to significant hardships in their daily lives.

Public facilities relate to our basic needs and the Indian Constitution recognises the right to water, health, education, etc., as being a part of the Right to Life. Thus one of the major roles of the government is to ensure adequate public facilities for everyone. But, progress on this front has been far from satisfactory. There is a shortage in supply and there are inequalities in distribution.

Public facilities, encapsulated by the rights to water, health, and education, are foundational to the Right to Life acknowledged in the Indian Constitution. However, the current state reflects considerable shortcomings, particularly in the provision and equitable distribution of these essential services. Many communities, especially poorer ones, remain underserved, leading to ongoing inequalities.

This can be compared to a family that has a beautiful dining table but no food to put on it. While the constitution guarantees access to essential services, the reality for many is that they struggle to enjoy these basic provisions due to systemic failures in delivery.

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