Sanitation and Hygiene

We sat in a plush climate-controlled room and deliberated climate change as the outside world collapsed around us..

“I want to live in a house like this!” was my first thought when I entered Vishwanath’s home. (Vishwanath is Founder, Director of Biome Solutions). My colleague and I had gone to visit his house to see and understand how he has implemented ranwater harvesting systems and other green initiatives there.

Toilet under the open sky for 73% of rural India

The Planning commission has found that 73% of rural India practices open defecation despite many sanitation programmes encouraged by the government. The main reason for this is the unavailability of toilets.

The monsoon brings with it water-borne diseases like diarrhoea, cholera and dysentery, which cause suffering and death. Although this is a recurring theme annually, not enough measures are taken to prevent this. The state of Assam decided to take some action in May of this year.

Sanitation is a familiar term but is often misunderstood to mean the building and using of toilets but this isn’t true. It covers a whole range of thought and action both pre and post latrine use, which includes cleanliness, personal hygiene and the safe disposal of the urine and faeces.

Green pastures and meadows, tall trees, lakes, wells and the river…those are my memories of Delhi. It wasn’t too long ago that one woke up early to the sounds of lawns being watered, children running off to school and people walking in the parks. A flurry of activity but quite different from what it is today.

WASH is essential for the all-round well-being of all children, especially girls.

Statistics that will shock you!

9% of schools in rural Chhattisgarh do not have drinking water and 40% schools do not have toilets. Even the schools that have both drinking water and toilets are not fully functional, with only 71% and 22% respectively working.

UNICEF recently conducted a workshop in Raipur to highlight the importance of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in schools. WASH is essential for the all-round well-being of all children, especially girls. 

Mrs Reena Kangale, Mission Director, Sarva Sikhsha Abhiyan, Chhattisgarh during inaugural address

Photo Courtesy: UNICEF Chhattisgarh

Uday Shankar from water.org welcomed the audience and introduced the issue of access to safe water and sanitation. Gary White, water.org, set the tone of the seminar by explaining his organisation’s vision of ‘getting safe water’ for everyone.

The report is divided into the following sections: