Ending open defecation and ensuring all citizens have access to proper toilet facilities is a top priority on India's national agenda. However, building toilets must go hand-in-hand with strategies to encourage people, especially in rural India, to change age-old habits and use the toilets regularly and in a hygienic way.
ITC's Health & Sanitation Programme aims to build awareness on the critical link between sanitation and health so that families come forward with the interest in building toilets for themselves. For maximum impact, campaigns are customised for different groups - men, women, children, community leaders, etc.
Community groups - generally women's self-help groups - are formed and they carry out most of the activities: identifying potential households, providing information and building awareness, managing funds, supervising construction, following up on usage. Families get a loan through the Group to build the toilet but must pay part of the cost. Their financial stake fosters a strong sense of ownership and encourages regular usage.
Individual Households
Primary Beneficiaries, Financial Contributors
NGOs
Project Implementation, Domain Expertise, Local Experience
Community
Sanitation Groups
Key Action Takers, Beneficiaries
ITC
Facilitator, Programme Design, Funding, Monitoring & Evaluation
Local & Central
Government Schemes
Funding & Implementation Partners
Focus on link between sanitation and health
Customised for different target groups, e.g. men, women, teenagers, young children, elderly, etc.
Employ diverse media, e.g. hoardings, wall paintings, street plays, audio-visual presentations, etc
Follow-up campaigns and annual events, e.g. rallies on World Toilet Day, to drive home the message
Workshops/training programmes for various groups, in particular women's sanitation self-help groups formed through ITC's initiative so that they can disseminate information and promote hygienic habits in their families and communities.
Take the lead in spreading awareness and generating demand for sanitation infrastructure from within the community
Visit individual households, conduct community meetings, identify potential beneficiaries
Collect household contribution, manage loan process, supervise toilet construction
Follow-up to ensure regular and hygienic usage of toilets
Families must pay part of cost for toilet construction
Remainder paid for by loan provided by ITC through SHG/Community Group
Loans repaid to Group, amount goes into corpus fund used to fund loams for constructing more toilets and, in some cases, for maintenance of sanitation infrastructure in local schools
Programme contributes directly to national Swaach Bharat mission which aims to eradicate open defecation in India by ensuring all citizens have access to decent toilet facilities
Leverages funds and proactively works with local government bodies to take benefits to more households than would otherwise be possible
