Did you know 1,400 kids die every day in India from diseases that conspire due to lack of clean water and sanitation facilities?
Are you aware of the fact that globally half of the urban population that defecates openly belongs to India?
Image Courtesy: Wikipedia
No wonder, India has always performed below average on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene related problems. Unfortunately, despite various programs and funding (nearly $54 billion is spent on it every year), billions of people in India do not have proper sanitation facilities or clean water to drink. A good number of Indians still defecate openly. In fact, open defecation is a problem not just in the rural areas but in the urban areas as well.
Nevertheless, due to lack of toilets, sanitation facilities, safe water and hygiene, India is not just suffering from Health related issues but is a victim of social problems as well. For instance, crime against women is growing rapidly due to open defecation. This is the reason why a group of people have come together to launch a social initiative for ‘Strengthening Water and Sanitation Facilities in Urban Settings’ in India.
The WASH Program
TERI University with US Agency for International Development (USAID) and in association with Coca-Cola Foundation has launched the “The WASH Program” which aims to strengthen hydration, water and sanitation at ground level in Urban India. The project aims to strengthen Swachh Bharat Mission by achieving water, sanitation and hygiene targets of the New Government of India.
Here we share the aim and objectives of WASH Program:
To Conduct WASH Related Risk Analysis
The WASH (Water Sanitation and Hygiene) aims to reach 50,000 beneficiaries in low-income settlements. The first goal is to conduct a widespread WASH related risk analysis in slums of Kolkata and Chennai. Nedunchelliyan Nagar and Kannagi Nagar in Chennai and Dhapa, Arupota along with Khayari basti in KMC wards in Kolkata have been chosen to conduct household surveys.
To generate a multi-stakeholder understanding to address WASH related issues in India
TERI University in association with USAID and Coca-Cola is trying to develop and implement WASH (Water Sanitation and Hygiene) by involving stake-holders such as educators, health workers, doctors, social scientists and women for strengthening water and sanitation facilities in Urban India. The goal of the WASH program is to reach more than 300 professionals and 2,500 students via 20 municipal schools across India.
To Find Replicable Answers and Solutions to Sanitation Issues
Several activities including “Inter University Competition” on Water Resource Management, conference, media exposure and action research workshops will be conducted in order to find solutions to sanitation problems. What’s more, the program will also develop links with existing Sanitation networks and with Urban Local bodies.
