Sanitation and hygiene in South Asia: India country report

This report by WSSCC and FANSA gives voice to the sanitation and hygiene needs and aspirations of marginalised groups in India. It is the culmination of 18 consultations held between October and December 2015 with women and adolescents, the elderly and disabled, sanitation workers and transgender persons. Although these individuals and groups exist in large numbers, they are often unheard and remain invisible. Their stories reflect the daily struggles they face because they do not have access to safe and hygienic sanitation facilities and continue to defecate in the open. Without listening to and understanding their challenges and concerns, the goals of the Swachh Bharat Mission will remain elusive. This report presents an excellent opportunity to listen to and understand the challenges and concerns of marginalised groups and find ways of addressing them.