Toilets and Urinals

This report by Sulabh International Institute of Health and Hygiene presents a baseline survey on health, hygiene and sanitation in urban slums and villages in Delhi. According to the report availability of basic civic facilities, like potable water, water disposal and sanitation, are vital human needs for health and efficiency of human beings. Inability of the city management and city institutions to provide these facilities to the citizens had led to high incidence of diseases and mortality rates. The problems which the women and children face in these conditions are much worse.

Some of the main findings of the status report on water resources in Tikamgarh and Jhansi districts by Development Alternatives are –

The Water Portal had previously covered ASHWAS, an ambitious water and sanitation survey in Karnataka conducted by Arghyam and partner organisations.

The presentation provides several water management measures including rainwater harvesting, grey water reuse, black water treatment and use and eco-sanitation in  Andaman and Nicobar islands. It also provides recommendations for modification in agricultural practices and other livelihoods that can be taken up with the given water availability.

This paper by WaterAid India highlights the progress, key issues and challenges and recommendations for improving sanitation coverage with special focus on the poor. It is based on the experience of WaterAid India, other major sector agencies and NGOs and also takes into consideration the programme of state and national governments of India for sanitation promotion.

"Innovations in Microfinance" Series

A debate on Private Sector approaches to Water Management for the poor provides a unique opportunity to learn about private sectro microfinance approaches to water management that have been used for a range of purposes from purchasing household water connections and clean water storage units, like rainwater harvesting tanks to the construction of household latrines.

The debate sponsored by the Citi Foundation & Arc Finance is to be held at the New York Asia Society and Museum. The event can also be accessed via a free live video webcast. More details below the fold.

Approximately 1.1 billion people lack clean water supplies and 2.7 billion have no access to proper sanitation. To combat conditions that lead to sickness and disease, low income families across Asia are asking for clean water and improved sanitation to keep their families healthy and productive. Sophisticated modern piped water networks are too expensive for most developing countries and poor people living in the slums often pay 5 to 10 times more per liter of water than wealthy people living in the same city. Sensing a business opportunity, microfinance organizations are beginning to explore the market for making water more accessible to the poor.

The PAHELI report (Peoples' Audit of Health Education and Livelihoods) is a rapid assessment of the prevailing status of human development in a district and covers four major sectors: life and livelihoods, water and sanitation, mother and child health, and education and literacy. The design and execution of PAHELI was done by Pratham and PAHELI district partners.

This report by the

These papers published by FORWARD provides a background on the water crisis in India and describes the water and sanitation situation in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.