Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
Safe drinking-water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are not just basic necessities; they are also the foundation of human health, socio-economic development, and dignity. Neglecting these essentials not only jeopardizes well-being but also undermines livelihoods, education, and the very fabric of resilient communities living in healthy surroundings. Contaminated water has dire consequences, causing diseases like diarrhoea that wreak havoc on people’s lives especially of children. Even worse is when the sewage infiltrates water sources and contaminates the water used for drinking, bathing, and farming. Toxic chemicals, from nature or due to human activity, are constantly contaminating water. Many medical conditions are caused by Arsenic, Fluoride, and Nitrate.
WASH is a powerful tool against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) like Trachoma, soil-transmitted Helminthes, and Schistosomiasis. Advancements in the area of water and sanitation, during the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) era, led to reduction in diarrhoeal deaths by half. The increasing levels of water stress, which are over 75 percent in Southern Asia and Central Asia and exceeding 100 percent in drought-stricken Northern Africa, cast a dark shadow over our ability to sustain life and ensure the well-being of communities. The example of Cape Town, the city that stunned the world by nearly emptying its water reserves, is an indicator of hard times to come. Moreover, the sobering reality that millions still lack access to safe drinking water in countries like Brazil is a stark reminder that our struggle for basic necessities is far from over. As we face these inter-connected challenges, the transformative power of initiatives like the Jal Jeevan Mission, become even more evident, echoing the urgent call for comprehensive global strategies to ensure a future in which access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene are not only fundamental rights, but also a shared commitment towards the survival of our planet and its inhabitants.
In India’s development journey, policies and governance regarding Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) have played a very important role in human well-being and progress. Safe and accessible drinking water, improved sanitation, and effective hygiene practices have been prioritised as essential components to uphold public health, bolster livelihoods, and foster dignity for all.
Ensuring equitable access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities for every citizen is not just a goal but a transformative agenda. India, with its diverse landscapes and population, faces unique challenges in the realm of WASH. While remarkable strides have been made, there’s more work to be done as a significant portion of India’s population still grapples with waterborne diseases and inadequate sanitation, imposing a heavy toll on health, productivity, and social progress.
“Water and sanitation flow through every aspect of sustainable development. Access to these essential services are human rights.”
However, India’s commitment to make a change in WASH, is evident in initiatives like the Jal Jeevan Mission which aims to bring the life-affirming gift of safe piped drinking water to every rural household by 2024. Similarly, focus of Swachh Bharat Mission after achieving the goal of a ‘open-defecation free’ country is on solid and liquid waste management. Beyond the numbers, these missions embrace a holistic approach, focusing on sustainability, community engagement, and innovative technologies.
The story of WASH in India is not just of challenges, but also of resilience, innovation, and collective action. Community-led efforts, technological innovations, and policy interventions converged to address the complex issue of water, sanitation, and hygiene. Through empowering women with leadership roles in Village Water & Sanitation Committees (Pani Samitis) – a sub-committee of rural local bodies (RLBs), leveraging digital advancements to monitor water supply in terms of quantity, quality, pressure, regularity, grievance redressal and creating awareness campaigns, India is marching towards a healthier, more sustainable future.
As the nation moves towards becoming a developed nation, the imperative of WASH becomes even more pronounced. The journey towards comprehensive access to piped safe drinking water, improved sanitation, and effective hygiene practices is about a future where the promise of health and dignity is woven into the very fabric of Indian society.
Our efforts will, inter-alia, also include addressing water contamination and advocacy for piped safe drinking water by encouraging use of advanced treatment technologies and raising community awareness. We, at Sankala Foundation, are committed to exploring and innovating various cost-effective sanitation practices that cater to diverse geographic and demographic contexts. Recognizing the intricate relationship between ecological and human needs, we will integrate climate-resilient strategies into our WASH infrastructure planning to ensure sustainability of life on Planet Earth.
In pursuit of these objectives, collaborative engagement will be our guiding principle. We recognize that meaningful change requires cooperation among various stakeholders, and we actively collaborate with government and parastatal organisations, non-governmental organisations, UN agencies, corporate entities, academia, and local communities to synergistically address India’s WASH challenges. Our foundation places a strong emphasis on accountability and effectiveness.
