On the ground

There is a high prevalence of open defecation due to the lack of sanitation infrastructure. Waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera are alarmingly common in the area.

Dewas district is located in the central part of Madhya Pradesh, covering an area of 7,020.84 km². About 71.1% of the population lives in rural areas, where a significant portion lacks access to essential sanitation services. The percentage of the population residing in households with access to improved sanitation facilities stands at 69.6%.

The lack of adequate sanitation infrastructure leads to the prevalence of open defecation, which contaminates the environment, water sources, and food and contributes to the spread of diseases. Waterborne diseases, such as diarrhoea and cholera, are particularly common in the area.

Poor hygiene practices lead to frequent illnesses among children, impacting their education and overall well-being. Addressing this issue is crucial for health, dignity, and safety. For women and girls, the lack of privacy and security is a significant problem due to inadequate sanitation facilities.
Improving sanitation facilities is essential to reinforcing children’s nutritional health. This includes ensuring access to safe drinking water, promoting its use for personal hygiene, increasing the availability and use of toilets, and encouraging good hygiene practices.

In detail

This project focuses on addressing sanitation issues by providing better facilities, particularly through the construction of toilets and the implementation of the CLTS (Community-Led Total Sanitation) program.

The project development includes:

1. Demand generation and sensitization programs will raise awareness of the importance of improving sanitation facilities in communities and schools. Awareness will also be raised in Anganwadi centers, which provide basic nutrition, health, and education services to children up to 6 years old and pregnant and lactating women. These centres are important points of contact for community well-being.
2. Implementation of the CLTS approach.
3. Construction of individual toilets in selected households.
4. Training and strengthening the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Committee will help maintain the facilities and promote behavior change.

CLTS is an innovative methodology for mobilizing communities to conduct their own assessments and analyses of open defecation. It is based on triggering a collective sense of disgust and shame among community members when confronted with the harsh realities of mass open defecation and its negative impacts.
The basic assumption is that no human being can remain indifferent once they learn other people’s faeces are contaminating them. Communities typically react strongly and develop action plans to become Open Defecation Free (ODF) areas through their own efforts. The method encourages innovation, mutual support, and locally appropriate solutions, leading to greater ownership and sustainability. Success is defined by whether the area becomes ODF.
The CLTS approach aims to generate demand and subsequent action at the local level without direct financial assistance.

Implementation process:

• Community mobilization to demand sanitation services that include adopting hygiene practices, i.e., toilet use, handwashing with soap at critical times (before and after meals, after using the toilet, before handling food, after handling faeces or solid waste), protection of water sources, safe water usage, and safe disposal of children’s excreta.
• Generating behaviour changes through community engagement.
• Accelerating the coverage and use of sanitation latrines in communities by building local capacities and creating demand to achieve ODF.
• Ensuring community ownership by guaranteeing participation through existing or newly formed Village Health, Sanitation, and Nutrition Committees (VHSNC).

Monitoring and evaluation:

Monthly and project closure reports are generated to assess the quality and effectiveness of the program. The project staff monitors indicators at the output and outcome levels and submits reports for proper evaluation.
Measurements are completed and recorded in the first three months, and specific end-of-project targets are set for each indicator.
Project staff, national-level technical staff, and other stakeholders review project progress after compiling the relevant indicators every three months.

Indicator tracking allows for the reassessment of the relevance and likelihood of achieving the indicator and for evaluating the potential modification of activities and project direction.

Sustainability prospects

The CLTS program aims to raise awareness and impart crucial knowledge for the maintenance of these facilities. However, it is imperative to educate the community on proper toilet management practices. Before construction begins, it is essential to cultivate community interest in the improved facilities, prioritize community participation, ensure the safety and maintenance of these facilities, and foster community ownership, making the stakeholders feel involved and responsible.
Establishing the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Committee within the community and training its members on the operation, maintenance, and proper use of the facilities is necessary. The committee plays a fundamental role in instilling a sense of ownership and empowering communities to maintain their facilities over time. Additionally, it promotes the education of unemployed youth, women from self-help groups, marginalized individuals, and people with disabilities in basic toilet maintenance. This training equips local people with the necessary skills to address issues and offers cost-effective solutions through income-generating opportunities.
Moreover, collaborating with the local government and the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) department ensures continuous technical assistance. This inclusive strategy encourages community participation, ensures long-lasting practices, and empowers individuals by strengthening their skills and economic opportunities within the sanitation sector.