Moderator’s note: Dear Members, We are delighted to share the Consolidated Reply on Ensuring Inclusion and Equity in WASH Programmes and thank you for your contributions. As a follow up of the query, we will undertake some best practices case study; followed by a consultation. The final thread of this query will be a (peer reviewed) paper focusing on Inclusion and Equity Framework/Indicators in WASH programmes. The paper will be shared with you as well as relevant departments/agencies.

Environment

Water Community

Gender _____________________________ Gender Community

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Query: Ensuring Inclusion and Equity in WASH Programmes - Experiences; Examples

Compiled by Sunetra Lala, Moderator, Water Community and Malika Basu, Resource

Person & Moderator, Gender Community

Issue Date: 17 July 2012

From Aidan Cronin, UNICEF India Country Office, New Delhi Posted 9 April 2012

Inclusion and equity are crucial to the realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for drinking water and sanitation. A coherent and pragmatic understanding of inclusion and

equity is a precondition to integrate it into planning any development programmes including that of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).

India's flagship rural drinking water and sanitation programmes are aimed at maximizing coverage, and to ensure social and gender equity with regards to availability of safe drinking

water to the often marginalized (e.g. dalits, tribals) and other socially vulnerable groups (e.g. differently-abled people, the elderly).

The issues and concerns of the socially marginalized and women in particular are important in WASH. A conscious effort is thus needed to recognize and include their differentiated needs and

perspectives in planning and execution of programmes.

In line with the India’s flagship programmes and the MDGs, one of the main focus areas of

UNICEF India’s next Country Programme (2013-2017) will be on ensuring social and gender equity in its WASH programmes.

As we believe that a structured approach to equity and gender in WASH programmes can lead to

positive outcomes, I request members of the Water Community and the Gender Community to

kindly provide inputs on the following: Please share with us any structured approaches developed by you or any other organization

known to you for ensuring inclusion and equity in WASH programmes

What are the essential phases that have been identified under such an approach /

framework? Please also suggest the phase-wise timeline if any, and phase-wise breakup of resources. In addition, what are the essential quality checks to be kept in mind at each

phase? What are the emerging indicators that can facilitate effective monitoring of inclusion and

equity in WASH?

In continuation of the above, what could be best practices that you are aware of in the India

water and sanitation sector that can illustrate a structured and consistent approach to gender

and equity outcomes?

Members’ inputs will help us to develop a guiding framework for inclusion and equity in our WASH programmes. It will also help us to come up with specific indicators to effectively monitor

the process and the consequent outcomes.

Responses were received, with thanks, from

1. Ranjan Mallick, WASH Specialist, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 2. Dunu Roy, Hazards Centre, New Delhi

3. Poulomy Chakraborty, University of Florida, USA

4. Saraswathi.G, Azim Premji Foundation, Mandya, Karnataka 5. Shivani Bhardwaj, Sathi All For Partnerships, New Delhi

6. Monisha Behal, North East Network, Guwahati, Assam 7. Puneet Srivastava, Consultant-Water and Sanitation, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

8. Vimala Ramachandran, ERU Consultants Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi

9. D. Johnson Rhenius Jeyaseelan, Population Foundation of India, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (Response 1) (Response 2)

10. Trisha Agarwal, Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability, New Delhi 11. Suneeta, Sarita, Shruti and the Jagori team, Jagori, New Delhi

12. Anuj Kumar Srivastava, Population Services International (PSI) India, New Delhi

13. Nripendra Kumar Sarma, Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Guwahati, Assam

14. Hanif Mujawar, Project Planning and Management Unit (PPMU), Water Supply and Sanitation Department, Government of Maharashtra

15. V. Kurian Baby, International Water & Sanitation Centre, The Hague, The Netherlands

16. Sanjay Singh, Parmarth Samaj Sevi Sansthan, Orai, Uttar Pradesh

17. Thomas Palgadhmal, Watershed Organization Trust, Pune, Maharashtra 18. Satish C. Raghu, Rural Environment & Community Health Awareness Society

(RECHA), Betul, Madhya Pradesh (Response 1) (Response 2*) 19. Mathew Mattam Luckose, WaterAid India, Pune, Maharashtra

20. Aparajita Dasgupta, All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Kolkata,

West Bengal 21. Vijaya Shah, Indian Institute of Youth Welfare, Nagpur, Maharashtra

22. B.B. Samanta, New Delhi

23. Umesh Chandra Gaur, Confederation of Community Based Organisations of India, New Delhi

*Offline Contribution

Further contributions are welcome!

Summary of Responses Comparative Experiences Related Resources Responses in Full

Summary of Responses Exclusion and inequitable access to basic services including safe water, sanitation and hygiene

(WASH) remain a major development and human rights concern as it impinges upon fulfilling the rights of people, especially the poor, the marginalized and those who are particularly vulnerable

due to lack of access to WASH.

To promote equity and inclusion in WASH calls for identifying and addressing the root causes of exclusion; recognizing the differential/special needs of individuals (e.g. the elderly, adolescents,

disabled, people living with HIV/Aids) and groups (e.g. Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, other

marginalized communities); promoting and supporting their inclusion in decision-making processes; and identifying and implementing appropriate and sustainable solutions.

The current policy environment in India coupled with political will and government’s efforts is

towards increased service coverage; it provides a great momentum to improving access to

WASH. However, promoting a universal access approach, rather than targeting particularly disadvantaged or marginalized groups can make excluded people and their special needs

invisible. While sectoral policies, government and non-governmental strategies and programmes do take into consideration the special needs of excluded communities, the level of awareness on

the special needs of the marginalized and vulnerable groups in WASH services is generally low at

all levels.

Essential Phases Suggested under a Structured Approach Inclusion and equity has to be built in every stage of project planning and implementation. While

an approximate time line may vary from project to project, depending upon the context, community initiatives/involvement and governance issues, three broad and overlapping phases,

that facilitates a structured approach in WASH, have been identified viz. Planning and

Institutional (Capacity) Building Phase; Implementation Phase, and Monitoring & Evaluation Phase. Jalanidhi (Kerala); Jalswarajya (Maharashtra); the efforts under school Block Wash

Plan (CYSD) and the Mantra process (Gram Vikas) in Odisha; the water harvesting program of Jal Bhagirathi Foundation (Rajasthan) are some examples that showcase a

structured approach in promoting inclusion and equity in WASH.

Each of the phases identified covers a number of activities; corresponding checks can also be

undertaken to ensure inclusion and equity.

Phases

Time-line

(approx)

Broad Activities/Inputs

Identified

(Quality) Checks

(Some Indicators)

Planning and Institutional (Capacity) Building Phase

3-6 months

Situational Analysis

Situational and gap analysis to

assess technical and social feasibility (includes identification of

marginalized groups and their needs)

Community Mobilization,

Involvement and Participation Applying participatory Tools

(including exposure visits);

awareness campaigns to mobilize the community

Organize Gramsabha/ Women’s

Gramsabha for participatory planning

Site selection for installation of

village hand pumps/path for the piped water supply based on village

meetings using the village resource map (the same is applicable if

community toilets are to be

constructed) Preparation of Village Action Plans

Institutional Building Formation of SHGs, Village level

WASH Committees and other

committees and sub-committees like social audit committee, women

empowerment committee,

procurement committee, etc Formation, revitalization and

strengthening of CBOs

Capacity building/ Trainings to

Committee members

Willingness of the

community; their level of participation in

awareness campaigns

and other activities

Attendance of men and women in the Gram

Sabhas

Formation of village level

committees; No of women represented in

local village level committees; No of

people representing

vulnerable communities (tribals, dalits) in the

village level committees

No of training programs/exposure visits

to committee members

delineating their specific role and responsibilities;

to SHGs for skill development

Regularity in committee meetings, records kept

on proceedings of the meetings, discussions

held, and resolutions

passed

Implementation Phase

9-12 months

Source Work Tender Process (for initiation of

work) and relevant sanctioning of

work

Excavate Source; or rejuvenate

existing source Laying the Pipelines/Hand

Pumps/Water Connections

Complete Source Work

Starting the Water Supply

Audit and Handover

Final Audit and hand over to relevant

authority (generally the Gram Panchayat) for O&M

Social Audit to ensure proper identification and

check of contractors,

materials used, etc

Procedure to obtain land, if required

Coverage area i.e. ensuring it includes all

hamlets, vulnerable groups

Number of house

connections, hand

pumps, etc provided; number of households

with toilet facilities

Number of poor and vulnerable communities

excluded from access to

water resources (could use the BPL criteria)

Hand over to Gram

Panchayat or relevant authority to manage the

Water Supply Scheme

Monitoring & Evaluation Phase

6-9 months Operation and Maintenance (O&M)

Water and Electricity Charges

Water Quality and Treatment

Training of Staff involved in O&M

Solid Waste Management

Monitoring Recovery of Water and Electricity

tariffs

Regular Water Tests

Maintenance of Source

Regular and Proper Functioning of all

Committees formed

Overdue or balance of tariffs to be paid;

Number of households

defaulting

Prevailing practices of Solid Waste

Management (to avoid polluting the source)

Health Issues; existing difficulties in accessing

water, etc

Emerging Indicators to Facilitate Effective Monitoring of Inclusion and Equity Effective monitoring of inclusion and equity in WASH may require responding to two key questions: a) is the supply consistent with the requirement of the people of the community; and

b) are there enough resource available to ensure the provision of service to the entire population? Keeping the two questions in mind, the following (selective) indicators may facilitate

effective monitoring of inclusion and equity in WASH.

A. Access to Water and Sanitation Facilities Are any groups/communities excluded from accessing water and sanitation facilities?

Were women involved in deciding location of connections, stand posts and toilet facilities?

Has the distance for collecting water reduced: distance between the water source and

households and time spent by women to collect water? Does the community (poor and non-poor; dalits and tribals) have equitable and sufficient

access to water resources?

Do Women and other marginalized groups/communities make/share decisions about the

process of water management?

B. Community Mobilization and Involvement Are the existing Information Education Communication (IEC) materials gender sensitive, also

covering aspects such as community participation, collective action, collective responsibility over water management?

Were women, poor and vulnerable communities included in exposure trips?

Are women’s groups active and involved in income generation activities?

Is the water supply scheme and its implementation procedures understood equally well by

different groups (men and women; poor and non-poor; tribals and dalits) Is there increased use of health and sanitation services?

C. Institutionalized Planning and Capacity Building Did the community (men, women, vulnerable communities) participate and were involved in

the preparation of Village Action Plan Were the Village Level Committees formed with adequate representation of all stakeholders

Community/Village Committees prepared the Village Action Plan with assistance from

NGOs/Technical Service Providers (TSPs)

Staff at all levels feel that they have sufficient knowledge on the equity and inclusive

approach of the project Women members feel they are valued and respected

Records are maintained by the Village Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC) and all

committees have clarity of their roles

VWSC and other village level institutions are managing the O&M of the project

Water quality is tested regularly

D. Gender, Equity and Social Inclusion The project (water supply scheme) does not discriminate against any particular group on the

issue of access to water

The project provides scope for different groups (including the elderly, adolescents, disabled,

people living with HIV/AIDS) to voice their views and accommodate their needs to VAPs Women feel they have been able to voice their views, and influence village/committee level

decisions

E. Behavioral Changes There are no caste/class discriminations

Water at the doorsteps has increased the number of children (including girls) going to school

Community is now better informed about other issues such as sanitation, cleanliness, which

has an impact on their health status

Saving time in accessing water has meant more women’s involvement in social activities

Best Practices that Illustrates a Structured Approach to Gender and Equity Outcomes

There are a number of examples from across the country that showcase successful (community based) approaches, which target and involve the poor and the marginalized; women and girls;

and people with special needs. The examples are also indicative of some bold moves and paradigm shifts in the way public water supply has been managed, and clean water and

sanitation facilities ensured (to citizens).

Government implemented programmes such as Jalanidhi and Jalswarajya have already been

mentioned above; these are said to have incorporated structured approaches for inclusion of women and the marginalized. Non Governmental Organization (NGO) efforts have also not

lagged behind. For instance, Utthan (Gujarat), Dharti (Madhya Pradesh), Jal Bhagirathi

Foundation (Rajasthan), Gram Vikas (Odisha), Watershed Organization Trust and Indian Institute of Youth Welfare in Maharastra - have all initiated or contributed towards

community led viable alternatives for better management of natural resources including water management.

A hallmark of inclusion and equity in WASH programmes has been the involvement and

participation of the community. Using participatory tools (e.g. PRA, Peer Group Assessment,

PIM, QAM, CLTS) has led to increased participation of community members and has ensured chances of providing sustainable services and adoption of improved hygiene practices. Women in

particular have been actively involved in Community Hygiene and Cleanliness (Nagaland); Water Harvesting Programs (Karnataka and Rajasthan). Women SHGs have also been entrusted

with the operation and maintenance (O&M) of water supply schemes (WSS), besides being

involved in income generation activities that have been an offshoot of WSS (e.g.

Maharashtra).

Community Based Organizations (CBOs)/NGOs have also motivated and influenced individuals to take up initiatives (e.g. Role of a Student in Rajasthan or that of a Pradhan in Uttar Pradesh).

In addition, organizations such as UNICEF, WaterAid have promoted partnership programmes

(e.g. in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal) that has led to demand-responsive approaches, low cost options, awareness drives and campaigns, capacity building of CBOs and NGOs.

While there are lessons to be learnt from the different examples, it cannot be overlooked that

there are socially excluded groups or people with special needs who continue to face discrimination (e.g. Sahariyas, a primitive tribe) in securing their water and sanitation rights.

There are also cases reported (e.g. resettlement colonies in Delhi) where families have gone

on debt to build toilets to save girls from harassment.

Efforts, though minimal, have been made to provide good quality facilities for the people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs); build toilet facilities for the disabled; enable scheduled caste

hamlets to get access to water; involving students and young adolescents to improve school

sanitation. While it is commendable - the good intentions and programme designs as depicted by multiple examples, it is not necessarily sufficient to ensure in a sustainable manner, inclusion

and equity outcomes in WASH. It is recommended that inclusion and equity be addressed comprehensively and be woven into the fabric of every planning, investment and implementation,

monitoring and supervision, reward and audit. By this approach, the excluded are most likely to be empowered.

Some Suggestions Water and sanitation are basic human rights, and a major public responsibility of any government

to fulfil. Based on existing practices and approaches some suggestions have been put forth, to facilitate inclusion and equity in WASH Programmes in a sustainable manner. These include:

Form and strengthen Community Based Organizations (CBOs) with representation of socially

excluded communities such as dalits, scheduled tribes, minority members with focus on

women Cadre building of socially excluded groups as change makers (to use them as ‘social capital’

to promote community mobilization, and towards assertion of rights and entitlements)

Encourage participatory planning (including socially excluded groups and women); ensure

legitimization of the plan in Gram Sabha meeting to ensure effective implementation of community’s (self-made) plan

Demystify the technical knowledge related to WASH (helps in ensuring maintenance of water

resources by the Community) Share community’s participatory models with government functionaries for ensuring wider

replication for increasing access and control over water and sanitation resources

Transparent and accountable implementation of government programmes/schemes in a non-

discriminatory manner and their convergence (e.g. Mahatama Gandhi National Rural

Employment Guarantee Act, Total Sanitation Campaigns, Rural Drinking Water Schemes, etc) Promote School programme on WASH

Gender Budgeting and Social Audit of WASH programmes

Public campaigns and pressure building for raising the concerns of the socially excluded

groups

Interface between diverse stakeholders and sensitization of government functionaries,

Panchyati Raj Institution (PRI) members on inclusion, gender and equity issues.

Comparative Experiences

All India

Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Mission and Total Sanitation Campaign Fails to Involve Communities (from Saraswathi.G, Azim Premji Foundation, Mandya) For both these programmes in very few cases women's self-help groups have come forward to

maintain water and sanitation facilities. Only in a few cases, this has been successful where women insisted strongly to have community toilets for their privacy and agreed to maintain them

on a sharing basis. Water source for maintaining these community toilets was however a problem during summers owing to scarcity of water, leading to difficulties in maintaining the toilets. Read

more

Delhi

Families on Debt to Build Toilets to Save Girls from Harrassment, (from Trisha Agarwala, Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability, New Delhi; and Suneeta, Sarita, Shruti and the Jagori team, Jagori, New Delhi) Jagori has been working in two resettlement colonies in Delhi, Bawana and Bhalswa. Their work

has shown that policies and schemes regarding urban water and sanitation do not have anything for women and girls. In these resettlement colonies, there is an increased stress waiting for

darkness for women/girls to relieve themselves and high costs of WATSAN-related ill-health. Despite their poverty, some families are going into debt to build home-based toilets to save girls

from harassment and violence. Read more

Gujarat

Mainstreaming Gender and Equity in Natural Resource Management (from Malika Basu, Resource Person) Covering 173 villages spread over 4 districts in Gujarat viz. Bhavnagar, Amreli, Panchmahals and

Dahod, Utthan has been initiating various programs including biodiversity for livelihood security in

the tribal area, community led viable alternatives for better management of natural resources such as sealing of wells, application of organic manure, etc. All these are carried out by various

village level institutions involving women and community based organizations. Read more

Karnataka

Involving Women in Rain Water Harvesting (from Saraswathi.G, Azim Premji Foundation, Mandya) In Gendathur village, HD Kote Taluk, Mysore District, where there was no groundwater, all

houses, on a subsidy basis, were given rainwater harvesting and awareness regarding maintenance and how potable it is. The village women used to bring water from Kabini River

back water which is 3-4kms away and which was not safe for drinking also. And for this they had

to skip their half day wage and work. Rain water harvesting made their life easy, and they could work for whole day.

Kerala

Jalanidhi Incorporates a Structured Approach for Inclusion of Women and the Marginalised (from V. Kurian Baby, International Water & Sanitation Centre, The Netherlands) Jalanidhi ensured that 52% of the households belonged to Below Poverty Line (BPL) and 16% from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST). Over 35% of all key community

functionaries were women and under the indigenous community component for Scheduled Tribes 162 small water supply schemes were completed. About 3700 small schemes with 100% house

connections and over 80000 sanitary latrines were completed. These schemes are 100%

managed by communities with full Operation & Maintenance (O&M) cost recovery. Read more

Madhya Pradesh

From Mathew Mattam Luckose, WaterAid India, Pune Dharti Builds Toilet Facilities for the Disabled

Nayapura village in Morena District did not have a single toilet until Dharti motivated people to adopt safe defecation. Five toilets have been built till date and work is in progress for another 13

toilets. A toilet constructed in the village has changed the life of a disabled person who is affected by polio and had severe problem as he had to almost crawl to distant places for

defecation, sometimes at odd hours. After completion of the toilet in his home, three other

disabled persons from the village were motivated and have started constructing toilets.

Scheduled Caste Families Have Access to Household Water Connection In a scheduled caste hamlet of Nayapura village, Morena District, 90 Scheduled Caste (SC)

families were discriminated against by people of other castes and were facing problems in getting

water. The interventions of a NGO, Dharti, inspired them to fight against this discrimination. With the help of WaterAid and Dharti, a water supply scheme was implemented. The community

shared the cost of pole erection and some other accessories and finally water reached the homes of the SC community.

Maharashtra

From Hanif Mujawar, Project Planning & Management Unit (PPMU), Department of Water Supply and Sanitation, Government of Maharashtra Jalwarajya Project Ensures Inclusion of Women

The project ensured a policy of entrusting the Operation & Maintenance (O&M) of rural water

supply schemes to women's Self Help Groups. In Khambegaon village, Jalna District, this initiative was started and the practice has been followed by a number of adjoining villages. Presently

around 250 villages have engaged women SHGs for daily O&M. The women also collect the water tax and are paid some percentage as incentive. Some women have also learnt/acquired the skills

of minor repair works. Read more

SHGs Start Income Generation Activities as Part of Jalswarajya Project

As a result of the drinking water project, women Self Help Groups (SHGs) initiated an income generation activity in the form of making sanitary napkins. For this, they underwent training,

entered into collaboration with banks and other organizations which provided finance. Women purchased the machinery, set up a small plant, and started their production (3000 napkins per

day). They are visiting schools in rural areas, creating awareness among teenage girls. For the

first time, women in rural areas have started using hygienic materials. Read more

Greater Access to Water and Sanitation for Women (from Thomas Palgadhmal, Watershed Organization Trust, Maharashtra) Watershed Organization Trust's (WOTR) major focus is on demand-driven participatory

approaches in drinking water and sanitation projects, which gives women greater access in the implementation of drinking water and sanitation activities. This has resulted in increased

participation of women and has ensured the chances of providing sustainable services and adoption of improved hygiene practices. Read more

People's Participation in Water and Sanitation Projects (from Vijaya Shah, Indian Institute of Youth Welfare, Nagpur) Indian Institute of Youth Welfare (IIYW) ensures people’s participation at the community level by

forming sanitation committees, water committees, health committees and operation and maintenance committees to look after the cleanliness of toilets. It has ensured 60 per cent

participation of women in these committees. Women and men from the community are involved

in the identification of problems, evaluation and follow up. This year IIYW withdrew from the project, yet these committees are still ensuring maintenance of the toilets. Read more

Nagaland

Involving Women in Community Hygiene and Cleanliness (from Monisha Behal, North East Network, Guwahati) North East Network (NEN) has been using different strategies to deal with community hygiene and cleanliness. Between 1995 and 2005, it conducted training in Nagaland (Zunheboto and Phek

district) on reproductive health; issues of self care with regards to menstrual cycles, safe disposal of locally made napkins; regular cleaning of drains, etc. NEN also did Participatory Rural Appraisal

(PRA) identifying sources of water, drains, and houses with malaria ridden members. Women

were actively involved in this exercise. Things worked like magic because everybody got into the act - clearing drains, making new channels for water source to flow freely, etc. When NEN re-

visited the area in 2011, they found that the magic has not worn off!

Odisha

School Block WASH Plan Ensures Participation and Inclusion(from Ranjan Mallick, WASH Specialist, Bhubaneshwar) The Block WASH Plan in Thakurmunda Block in Mayurbhanj District was introduced to inculcate

hygiene practices among students through software interventions and hardware activities. Playing the role of change managers, the student remain a vital link in the sustainability chain

guarding proper upkeep of infrastructure and their utilization. The project forges strong linkages

with duty bearers at planning, implementation and review stages generating multi-stakeholder ownership and participation. Read more

Movement and Action Network for Transformation of Rural Areas (MANTRA) Unites

Communities to Overcome Barriers of Social Exclusion (from Malika Basu, Resource Person) Under its WASH programme, Gram Vikas includes all households to ensure universal access; the

female heads of households are also involved in the decision-making process. The practice of 100 percent inclusion keeps villages clean and eliminates sources of water contamination as the

entire village is involved in establishing, maintaining and benefiting from the sanitation system. This process is based on MANTRA’s values of inclusion, sustainability, cost sharing and social and

gender equity. Clean drinking water and access to sanitation has resulted in over 80% reduction

in incidences of waterborne diseases. Read more

Rajasthan

Indira Emerges as a Key Leader to Make Paleshwar Village OD free (from Poulomy Chakraborty, University of Florida, USA) Indira a student of Class 12 from Paleshwar village in Udaipur District took bold steps to make

her village ODF. She went out to stop women and children from defecating in the open. She not only dug the pit in front of her house, but also constructed the super-structure with date leaves

and sticks. She made a pit cover with a tin plate and cow dung. Her mother, who once opposed

her decision of constructing the toilet in the household compound, now happily uses the toilet

regularly. Read more

Building Community Ownership for Water Harvesting Programs (from Malika Basu, Resource Person) Jal Bhagirathi Foundation covers the districts of Jodhpur, Barmer and Pali, wherein before

initiating water harvesting and natural resource management programs, sufficient time is dedicated to instill the feeling of community ownership. The community is then given the

responsibility to search for plausible solution, detail out its technical specifications, prepare a supporting budget for the intervention and share them with the members of the Foundation.

People’s enthusiasm and commitment is further consolidated through the Jal Sabha. Read more

Uttar Pradesh

From Vimala Ramachandran, ERU Consultants Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi Active Pradhan Initiates Community Support for School Sanitation Mirzapur village is a Nirmal Gram, and the credit for these changes in the school as well as in the

village environment goes to the lady pradhan's husband who plays an active role in village governance with a special commitment to sanitation. With joint efforts of the pradhan, the

sanitation motivator and members of the village community, all the habitations are now clean and devoid of garbage and cattle excreta. The community also supports school sanitation. Read

more

Sahariya Community, a Primitive Tribe Faces Continuous Exclusion and

Discrimination In Lalitpur District, the Sahariya community has remained one of the most difficult groups for the

various governmental schemes to reach out to. For the handful of Sahariya children attending school, the situation is not friendly as the exclusion faced by the community extends inside the

classroom too. They are treated as unclean and face discrimination from other children and

teachers as they are made to sit separately, or way behind in the classrooms. Read more

Easily Accessible Water and Sanitation are Indispensable for PLWHAs (from Malika Basu, Resource Person)

In 2008, WaterAid India with Uttar Pradesh State AIDS Control Society initiated a Programme on

Arresting Opportunistic Infections for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Implemented in 14 districts, it involved working with Drop in Centres (DICs) and Community Care Centres (CCCs);

these also became WASH information centres, offering a range of audio, video and other materials. PLWHAs are able to use good quality facilities at the centres (e.g. water filters,

washbasins, urinals, latrines). Staff members are trained on WASH issues and tell PLWHAs about the importance of good WASH practices in their lives. Read more

West Bengal

Inclusion and Equity in the Rural Sanitation Programme (from Malika Basu, Resource Person)

In 1991, the State Government of West Bengal, the Ramakrishna Mission Loksiksha Parishad and

UNICEF launched the Intensive Sanitation Project (ISP) in Midnapur district. ISP adopted a low subsidy, demand-responsive approach, offered low cost options, conducted massive awareness

drives and campaigns, built the capacity of CBOs and NGOs and started Rural Sanitary Marts in each block, managed by NGOs and often run by women. Over a period of 18 years, sanitation

coverage in the district rose from 5%, in 1991, to full coverage in 2009. Midnapur inspired other

districts and its approaches were adopted in the State’s rural sanitation programme. Read more

Related Resources Recommended Documentation Centre for Youth and Social Development Block WASH Plan (from Ranjan Mallick, WASH Specialist, Bhubaneshwar) Report; by Centre for Youth and Social Development; Bhubaneswar;

Available at ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/wes/cr/res-09041201.docx (DOC; Size:

137KB) Provides details of the Block WASH plan, which was aimed at improving health and education of children through better hygiene behaviour in a healthy school environment

Report and Training Manual on Gender Focused Sector Analysis Workshop (from Shivani Bhardwaj, Sathi All for Partnerships, New Delhi) Report; by Shivani Bhardwaj and K Geeta; DACAAR and Sathi All for Partnerships; Kabul,

Afghanistan; February 2011; Available at ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/wes/cr/res-09041202.pdf (PDF; Size: 853KB)

Shares experiences on how Gender Analysis can and is currently being done by DACAAR, Kabul in a participatory way, with communities- gaps, opportunities and challenges

Equity in School Water and Sanitation India Country Report - Overcoming Exclusion and Discrimination in South Asia (from Vimala Ramachandran, ERU Consultants Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi) Report; by UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA); Kathmandu, Nepal; 2009;

Available at ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/wes/cr/res-09041203.pdf (PDF; Size: 497KB)

A report on a study commissioned by UNICEF ROSA in order to understand the interplay of inclusion and exclusion related to water, sanitation and education

From Suneeta, Sarita, Shruti and the Jagori team, Jagori, New Delhi

Women's Rights and Access to Water and Sanitation in Asian Cities (2009-2011) Report summary; by JAGORI, Women in Cities International (WICI) and International

Development Research Centre (IDRC); New Delhi; July 2011; Available at http://jagori.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/IDRC_Exec_summary.pdf (PDF; Size:

2.10MB) Summary of an action research study undertaken by JAGORI in two resettlement colonies of Delhi to highlight gender gaps in WATSAN services

Gender and Essential Services in Low-income Communities

Report; by Kathryn Travers, Prabha Khosla and Suneeta Dhar; JAGORI and Women in Cities International; Canada; 2011

Available at http://www.womenincities.org/pdf-general/idrc%20final%20internet.pdf (PDF; Size:

6.10MB) Describes a project, which aimed to adapt the women’s safety audit methodology to generate a model for engaging poor women with their local governments, etc

A Handbook on Women's Safety Audits in Low-income Urban Neighbourhoods: A

Focus on Essential Services, November 2010 Handbook; by Surabhi Tandon Mehrotra; JAGORI and Women in Cities International; New Delhi;

November 2010; Available at http://jagori.org/wp-content/uploads/2006/01/Handbook1.pdf (PDF; Size: 1MB)

A learning tool, which helps to explore the links between women's safety and security and access to essential services in order to create more gender inclusive communities

From Hanif Mujawar, Project Planning & Management Unit (PPMU), Department of Water Supply and Sanitation, Government of Maharashtra

Jalswarajya Project Project overview; by Department of Water Supply and Sanitation, Government of Maharashtra;

Maharashtra; Available at ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/gen/cr/res25041201.pdf (PDF; Size: 1.55MB)

Provides an overview of the Jalswarajya project, which is aimed at increasing access of rural households to improved and sustainable drinking water and sanitation services

Impacts of Jalswarajya Report; by Department of Water Supply and Sanitation, Government of Maharashtra;

Maharashtra; Available at ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/gen/cr/res25041202.pdf (PDF; Size: 82.6KB)

Describes how communities, particularly women, carried out procurement of goods, supervised civil works and thus created their own water supply and sanitation facilities

Community based hand pump management (from Satish C. Raghu, Rural Environment and Community Health Awareness Society (RECHA), Betul, Madhya Pradesh) Report; by Rural Environment and Community Health Awareness Society (RECHA); Betul; Available at ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/wes/cr/res-09041204.docx (DOC; Size:

24.5KB)

Provides details of a community based hand pump management project, involving community participation with a strong gender component

Equity and Inclusion in Sanitation and Hygiene in South Asia (From Malika Basu, Resource Person & Moderator) A Regional Synthesis Paper; by Ravi Narayanan, Henk van Norden, UNICEF; Louisa Gosling, WaterAid and Archana Patkar, Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council; March 2011

Available at http://www.inclusivewash.org.au/Default.aspx?SiteSearchID=1329&PageID=6157113

Brings to fore, proven approaches and results in the area of inclusion; paper intended for further discussion leading to collaborative action

Recommended Organizations and Programmes

Feedback Foundation (from Poulomy Chakraborty, University of Florida, USA) 6, LSC, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi-110017, India; Tel: 91-124-4227482; Fax: 91-124-4169311;

inquiries@feedbackfoundation.in; http://feedbackfoundation.in/presentation.aspx

Works across India supporting the TSC, using the CLTS approach with community groups, including women, as change agents to make their villages totally sanitized

North East Network (from Monisha Behal) J.N. Borooah Lane, Jorpukhuri, Guwahati-781001, Assam, India; Tel: 91-361-2603833;

assamnen@yahoo.co.uk; www.northeastnetwork.org Awomen's rights organisation working in the north east region of India with a focus on women’s human rights, issues of livelihood, health, conflicts and governance

From Trisha Agarwala, Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability, New Delhi

Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (CBGA)

B-7 Extn/110A (Ground Floor) Harsukh Marg, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi-110029, India; Tel: 91-11-49200400; info@cbgaindia.org; http://www.cbgaindia.org/research.php

Carried out a study on Gender Responsive Budget analysis of public provisioning of water and sanitation services in the two relocation colonies of Bawana and Bhalswa in 2011

JAGORI B-114, Shivalik, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi-110017, India; Tel: 91-11-26691219; Fax: 91-11-

26691221; jagori@jagori.org; http://jagori.org/ Undertook an action research study in two resettlement colonies of Delhi to highlight gender gaps in WATSAN services

Watershed Organization Trust (from Thomas Palgadhmal) “The Forum”, 2nd Floor, Padmavati corner, Pune Satara Road, Pune-411009, Maharashtra, India; Tel: 91-20-24226211; info@wotr.org/pune@wotr.org; http://www.wotr.org/wotr-

projects/drinking-water-sanitation/ Engaged in promoting and up-scaling watershed development in the drought-prone/water scarce areas in different parts of the country by involving women

WaterAid India (from Mathew Mattam Luckose) 403-408, 4th Floor, CNI Bhavan, 16 Pandit Pant Marg, New Delhi-110001, India; Tel: 91-11-46084400; Fax: 91-11-46084411; wai@wateraid.org; http://www.wateraid.org/india/

A leading independent organisation which enables the world's poorest people to gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education

Indian Institute of Youth Welfare (from Vijaya Shah) 134, Shivaji Nagar, Nagpur-440010, Maharashtra, India; Tel: 91-712-533421;

youthwel@sify.com; http://www.indiasocial.org/cgi/meminfo.asp?orgname=Indian+Institute+of+Youth+Welfare

Has been running a water, sanitation and health programme, by involving women sanitation committees, water committees and operation and maintenance committees

Jalanidhi (from V. Kurian Baby, International Water & Sanitation Centre, The Netherlands) PTC Towers, SS Kovil Road, Thampanoor, Thiruvanthanpuram-695001, Kerala, India; Tel: 91-

471-233700; Fax: 91-471-2337004; mis@jalanidhi.com; http://jalanidhi.com/decentralization.htm

State-level project assisted by the World Bank to provide water and sanitation services, and augment groundwater resources in the state

From Saraswathi.G, Azim Premji Foundation, Mandya Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission

Department of Drinking Water Supply, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, 9th

Floor, Paryavarn Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003, India; Tel 91-11-24361043; Fax: 91-11-24364113; jstm@water.nic.in; http://ddws.nic.in/sustainability.htm

Safe drinking water scheme of the central government which will be included under the National Water Mission to combat climate change

Total Sanitation Campaign Department of Drinking Water Supply, Ministry of Rural Development, 247, A Wing, Nirman

Bhawan, New Delhi-110011, India; Tel: 91-11-23010207; http://india.gov.in/sectors/rural/central_rural.php

Central Government programme, launched in 1986, has a strong school sanitation component to teach children about environmental sanitation and hygiene

From Malika Basu, Resource Person & Moderator, Gender Community Utthan Contact: Ms. Nafisa Barot; # 36, Chitrakut Twins, B/h Management Enclave, Nehru Park,

Vastrapur, Ahmedabad -380015, Gujarat, India; Tel: 91-79-26751023, 26732926;

utthan.ahmedabad@gmail.com; http://utthangujarat.org Helps communities to establish gender sensitive management systems for equitable and sustainable natural resources supported through diverse livelihood option

Wells for India India Liaison Office, 3-D-49 Sector no.7, Housing Board Colony, Gupteshwar Nagar, Udaipur -

313002, Rajasthan, India; Tel: 91-294-2481182; wellsforindia@gmail.com;

http://www.wellsforindia.org/ UK based organization, working in partnership with local voluntary organizations on water related projects, focusing on the poorest and most marginalized communities in rural Rajasthan

Jal Bhagirathi Foundation (JBF) Contact Person: Ankita Vijay; # D-66 (B), Sawai Madho Singh Road, Jaipur- 302 016, Rajasthan,

India; Tel: 91-141-2280964, 4025119; Fax 91-141-4025119; jal@jalbhagirathi.org; http://www.jalbhagirathi.org/

JBF works with a two-pronged strategy involving implementation of community-based natural resource management initiatives and fostering effective partnerships with NGOs/CBOs

Gram Vikas

Mohuda, Berhampur-760002, Orissa, India; Tel: 91-680-2261866; Fax: 91-680-2261862; http://gramvikas.org/

Promote processes which are sustainable, socially inclusive and gender equitable to enable poor and marginalized rural people to achieve a dignified quality of life

Water Supply & Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) 15, Chemin Louis-Dunant, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland; Tel:41-22-5608181; Fax:41-22-5608184;

wsscc@wsscc.org; http://www.wsscc.org/

Global multi-stakeholder partnership organization, hosted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), works to improve the lives of poor people by enhancing collaboration among sector agencies and professionals around sanitation & water supply

Recommended Communities and Networks From Malika Basu, Resource Person & Moderator, Gender Community Rural Water Supply Network (RWSN)

http://www.rwsn.ch/ Global knowledge network for promoting sound practices in rural water supply

Freshwater Action Network (FAN) http://www.freshwateraction.net/

Global network of people implementing and influencing water and sanitation policy and practice around the world by strengthening civil society

Gender and Water Alliance (GWA)

http://www.genderandwater.org/

Global network dedicated to mainstream gender in water resources management

Recommended Portals and Information Bases From Malika Basu, Resource Person & Moderator, Gender Community SustainableWASH.org

http://sustainablewash.org/ Global Portal for advancing sustainability in WASH; platform for WASH and other sector professionals to learn and discuss the latest issues in WASH

Inclusive WASH

http://www.inclusivewash.org.au/ A free learning portal led by WaterAid in Australia; provides practical skills and evidence to support practitioners’ implementation of WASH projects

Recommended Tools and Technologies Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) (from Multiple Sources) http://www.iisd.org/casl/caslguide/pra.htm

PRA is distinguished at its best by the use of local graphic representations created by the community that legitimize local knowledge and promote empowerment

Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) (from Poulomy Chakraborty, University of Florida, USA) http://www.sswm.info/category/planning-process-tools/programming-and-planning-

frameworks/frameworks-and-approaches/sani-5

CLTS helps rural communities to understand and realise the negative effects of poor sanitation and empowers them to collectively find solutions

From Thomas Palgadhmal, Watershed Organization Trust, Maharashtra Peer Group Assessment http://www.linfo.org/peer_review.html

Exercise in which representatives from participating villages visit each other’s projects in order to discuss achievements, failures, innovations, best practices

Participatory Impact Monitoring (PIM)

http://www2.gtz.de/dokumente/bib/96-2007_IV.pdf (PDF; Size: 452 KB)

A system of review for villagers to connect their own indicators to their impacts; helps to form a deeper understanding of the mechanics of their socio-economic development

Qualitative Assessment Matrix (QAM)

http://www.wotr.org/know-how/tools-frameworks/

System of indicators such as water table level, income, and number of toilets, which measures each community’s growth as well as its shortcomings

Health Enhancing Physical Activity (HePA) (from B.B. Samanta, New Delhi) Read about HePA at http://www.paijat-

hame.fi/easydata/customers/paijathame/files/paketti/julkaisut/health_enhancing_physical.pdf

HePA refers to any form of exercising that positively influences health; it is characterized by regularity, reasonable effort and continuity; it can be studied from the viewpoint of identity and social inclusion, social innovations, etc

Responses in Full

Ranjan Mallick, WASH Specialist, Bhubaneshwar This is with reference to Aidan Cronin’s query on Ensuring Inclusion and Equity in WASH

Programmes. I am sharing my experience with the CYSD-Plan India Block WASH plan. Please visit ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/wes/cr/res-09041201.docx (DOC; Size: 34KB) for

details about the same. I hope this will be useful.

Dunu Roy, Hazards Centre, New Delhi

Please share with us any structured approaches developed by you or any other organization known to you for ensuring inclusion and equity in WASH programmes

In urban areas water and sanitation provisions are dependent upon source supply by the

Municipalities. Hence, communities are dependent on the Local Urban Body for providing the main water pipes and sewers to which individual connections can be attached. All families,

particularly women, want these connections but are hampered by lack of access to the service provider as well as, sometimes, the high charges levied by some service providers. Hence, they

need information and technical support to understand how they may access the service provider

and what their entitlements are under municipal law. This need is what structures the response to the need itself - i.e. the existence of an institution that will provide the information, particularly

to ensure that the poorer population is not denied basic rights while the more affluent get up to twice and thrice the norm.

What are the essential phases that have been identified under such an approach / framework? Please also suggest the phase-wise timeline if any, and phase-wise

breakup of resources. In addition, what are the essential quality checks to be kept in mind at each phase?

From Hazards Centre (in Delhi but advising communities across many towns and cities) we have been able to identify the following phases:

The community approaches the Centre with its problem

The Centre's researchers undertake collection of secondary data to understand what are the

basic (local) municipal policies and rules governing supply of water and sanitation.

A series of workshops and public meetings is held with the community group to convey this

information and to demarcate what are the specific hurdles that the community faces with respect to access.

A participatory data collection and research activity is designed around these hurdles to

quantify the community's needs and capacities. This survey is conducted by the community members themselves - mostly through self-administered questionnaires - after an orientation

workshop.

The data is analyzed and formulated into policy prescriptions in discussion with the

community members through public meetings. The community then approaches the service provider with specific quantified information and

suggestions - which most service providers are unable to counter or turn away because the

suggestions are well worked out and within the overall policy frame of the service provider or urban local body.

In some cases the service providers are unwilling to respond and then the community is

assisted in an advocacy programme that reaches out to legislators, councilors, regulatory authorities, and the media.

The entire process generally takes about six months to a year - depending upon the level of community initiative. Very few resources are required (other than the external cost of the

researchers who assist the community) and most of it is generated through community mobilisation. The only "quality" check we keep in mind is whether the dissemination of

information and participation in collecting data and formulating policy is reaching all members of

the community.

What are the emerging indicators that can facilitate effective monitoring of inclusion and equity in WASH?

Two indicators that are of value in this approach: Is the norm for supply consistent with the requirement of the people of the community?

Using this norm and generalising over the entire city/town would there be enough resource

available with the urban local body to ensure provision of service to the entire population?

In continuation of the above, what could be best practices that you are aware of in the India water and sanitation sector that can illustrate a structured and consistent approach to gender

and equity outcomes?

"Best practice" is inevitably that of the poorer sections - because they use the least amount of

resource most efficiently and with the minimum impact on the environment.

Poulomy Chakraborty, University of Florida, USA Aidan has posted an extremely important WASH issue.

The gradual shift of the WASH approach from the traditional TSC approach, to the CLTS (community led total sanitation) approach, is one example of inclusion, not only gender, but the

entire community, men, women, children, all castes and classes in the community. The CLTS approach binds the community, creates social cohesiveness and shuns caste / class /power /

gender hierarchy in the community.

I was working with Feedback Foundation, in Gurgaon and the organization works across India

supporting TSC, using the CLTS approach, and many of their works have been with UNICEF. Here are a few newsletters from the organization which talks about how different community

groups acted as change agents to make their villages totally sanitized. These can be taken as best practices.

For details please visit http://feedbackfoundation.in/presentation.aspx

Saraswathi.G, Azim Premji Foundation, Mandya Before starting afresh anything it is my sincere and earnest feedback that when we look back at

the quantum of funds flow for the water and sanitation sector in India, the utilization and success

rate is very low. We are aware of water depletion and non-availability of groundwater, so apart from further digging of bore-wells and hand-pumps which get dried-up soon and which are dug

much deeper leading to waste of material, money and energy, and consequences like children falling into dug and failed bore-wells, we have to try something new with regard to conservation

of water, existing bore well revival, ponds and tanks revival, de-silting of existing tank by

community mobilization and participation, community plantation, community open wells, rain water harvesting and storage, linking of rivers, and so on.

This is an experience sharing with regard to my previous work exposure in Rajiv Gandhi Drinking

Water Mission and Total Sanitation Campaign in coordination with GOI, GOK and UNICEF, in Zillah Panchayat Mysore. I have contributed and worked for four years in this area and my

observations are as follows:

First of all we are aware that there is lack of space in the colonies where people live in thatched

huts and small low roofed broken houses or government allocated single room under various programmes such as the Ashraya rural programme, which is the most important housing

programme for the poor in Karnataka, wherein the unit cost of a rural Ashraya house is Rs.20,000, of which Rs.10,000 constitutes subsidy and the remaining is a loan from the Housing

and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO). The Dr. Ambedkar Housing Scheme, which provides houses to members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes wherein the entire

cost of Rs.20,000 per house is met by the government. The Indira Avas Yojana, which is a

centrally sponsored scheme where, 80 per cent of the cost is borne by the Government of India and the balance, is contributed by the State government. Neralina Bhagya, which is a scheme for

the up gradation of a thatched roof to a tiled roof, for which a subsidy of Rs.5,000 is provided per house.

In such cases construction of toilets are ruled out, due to lack of space.

There are no drains for waste water disposal and total unhygienic condition prevails.

If there are drains it is half done without extending to an external outlet due to shortage of

funds (miss use of funds) and thus stagnation and odour as a result.

Children are allowed to defecate in and around the dwellings and the drains causing health

hazards Women have to bathe in polythene or coconut leaves covered thatched unhygienic spaces,

where they cannot even clean their private parts properly due to lack or safety and security.

There sole water source is hand pump which is not maintained as there is no platform or

drain for waste water, as they wash clothes, vessels and sometimes bathe where water outlet is not proper and due to stagnation contaminate the bore well water.

In totality, unhygienic condition prevails which leads to various diseases.

While implementation the following aspects were experimented with:

Separate community toilets for men and women with water storage tanks (Here the question of maintenance arises. Whether the community has to maintain this or the Gram Panchayat? There

were clashes as to why the community should maintain since so many members use the same. If it is left to Gram Panchayat, then it is only maintained for a few days and from my experience

most of the community toilets are unhygienic with no maintenance and are a waste of funds,

material, manpower time and energy)

In very few cases the women self-help groups came forward for maintenance but on a

payment basis (pay and use) for which the community or colony members were not agreeable.

Only in one or two cases it was a success where the women had a strong stake to have

community toilets for their privacy and agreed to maintain them on a sharing basis, that if a toilet is used by two or three households, then on a rotation basis they have to clean and will

contribute for bleaching powder, phenol, etc.

Again water source for maintenance of these community toilets was also a problem especially

during summers when there is scarcity of water and they failed to maintain the same. Mysore ZP had also experimented with eco-sanitation in one village where a single

community prevailed which is a success story. But the cost is very high and they should have

their own cultivable land for usage.

With regard to the water sector my experience is as follows:

There are cases of community maintained hand pumps. In this case if the bore well is dug

and hand pump fixed in one area or one colony then a street committee is formed.

If for example there are 10 houses in a lane/street, then one member from each household

(woman) form a committee and on a rotational basis maintain the bore well. In this case it is not only women but also men who took active role in maintaining the same.

These committees were given orientation and awareness regarding maintenance of drinking

water, health, hygiene, usage of toilets, water contamination and diseases, etc.

They were also given awareness regarding rain water harvesting, water conservation, kitchen

garden, ground water recharge, etc. The committee’s role was to see that the water is not wasted, not contaminated, nobody

wash their clothes or vessels, not to bathe in and around the bore well. They were not

allowed to wash their cattle or give water to their cattle near the hand pump, rather they had to carry water in a bucket from a distance for the cattle.

This is workable and there are success stories.

This was later also adopted for mini water supply and piped water supply for maintenance

and collection of water charges in some of the Gram Panchayats.

In Gendathur village, HD Kote Taluk, Mysore district, where there was no groundwater, all

houses, on a subsidy basis, were given rainwater harvesting and awareness regarding maintenance and how potable it is. The village women used to bring water from Kabini River

back water which is 3-4kms away & which was not safe for drinking also. And for this they had to skip their half day wage & work. Rain water harvesting made their life easy and could

work for whole day.

But once again all these need dedicated officers, NGOs, teams to contribute, work with the

community, generate awareness and work hard towards community mobilization and convergence. Or else this will be a national and international 3M wastage.

Shivani Bhardwaj, Sathi All for Partnerships, New Delhi This is to share with you a training manual to mainstream gender in WASH programme for

DACCAR in Afghanistan.

For over two decades, DACAAR has been working with Afghan people with the aim to support the development of sustainable livelihoods for rural Afghans through capacity building at community

level, improving rural infrastructure and facilities such as drinking water and hygiene, supporting

and improving community management of natural resources.

In 2008, a Gender Team was set up with its primary mandate to mainstream gender in all of DACAAR’s programming, operational and strategy work. As part of capacity building and ensuring

internal commitment on gender issues within DACAAR, a two days workshop, ‘Change

Management with focus on Gender’ was organised in August-Sept 2009. The workshop dealt with basic development functions and principles of gender mainstreaming and broad ways on how this

can be implemented.

In 2009, a DACAAR adopted a Gender Policy and set up an implementing mechanism trough a

network of Gender Focal Points in field and Kabul offices. As part of the second step and in response to field experiences, an in-depth workshop to equip relevant DACAAR teams with

specific tools on how to identify and implement gender issues and concerns in various stages of the Project cycle and within Organisational Development (OD) process was planned. The broad

purpose of the workshop was to reach a common understanding of the principles, definitions and tools for Gender Analysis, to strengthen DACAAR’s Gender Mainstreaming Strategy and assist the

implementation of the Gender Policy commitments.

This report is a written documentation of the workshop. DACAAR employees are the central

transformative agency for governance and delivery of basic services and livelihoods in the geographical area the organizations works in. Hence, it is critical that these teams embody the

spirit of inclusion within their structure and functions to continue to develop DACAAR as an institution that gives gender equality the importance it deserves. The overall objective of this

report is to reconfirm the gender profile of the programmes in the organization and their

administrative demands.

The report has two sections: 1. Basic report that captures the experiences, insights and recommendations

2. Manual that captures the processes/experiences and other teaching/learning tools of this Workshop.

The document is available at ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/wes/cr/res-09041202.pdf (PDF; Size: 853KB). It is also uploaded on our website www.sathiallforpartnerships.org.

Monisha Behal, North East Network, Guwahati

We are from the North East Network, a women’s organisation working in the north east region of

India. The two things that we think are necessary to decrease problems of hygiene and sanitation are advocacy efforts to influence policy both from the district and the state level; and

to work ‘hands on’ in areas where communities might respond to discussions and demonstrative exposure on hygiene and sanitation. We view one of the effects of bad sanitation forces of

human migration, increased urbanization and shrinking spaces leading to indiscriminate use of

open spaces that harm and pollute the environment. Municipalities are meant to clean up the garbage rotting in our towns and cities with waterlogged streets and blocked drains. This is not

done because of the lack of resources or simple lack of accountability. It is only pertinent to say that training and exposure to people working in Municipality Corporations is necessary. Civil

society too is equally responsible and the non-caring attitude towards their own streets or neighbourhood is a non-issue for many.

Though open spaces are used for defecation, many still use enclosed makeshift units in different states of the north eastern region. In the past we have used different strategies to deal with

community hygiene and cleanliness that caught people’s attention in different ways. Training on reproductive health and issues of self care with regard to menstrual cycles, safe disposal of

locally made napkins, regular cleaning of drains for avoidance of vector borne diseases were

conducted in Nagaland, both in Zunheboto and Phek district. This was done between 1995 and 2005. In Leshemi village there was a marshy area surrounded by houses which brought in filth,

odour and mosquitoes. We did a PRA carefully identifying the source of water, the drains, and the houses with malaria ridden members and also used the book Where There is No Doctor. The

women were involved in this exercise. Things worked like magic because everybody got into the

act - clearing drains, making news channels for water source to flow freely, etc.

I visited Leshemi again in early 2011 and the magic hasn’t worn off. Issues of hygiene and sanitation can catch the public eye if the implementing organisation develops interesting methods

of spreading the word. Some are that of street plays, health fairs, screening of short films and prizes for parents maintaining standards of hygiene in their children. Any other ideas? Please let

us know.

For more details about us please visit www.northeastnetwork.org

Puneet Srivastava, Consultant-Water and Sanitation, Lucknow

In my experience, the application of principals of equity in the management of rural water supply

systems is predominantly a function of technology and automation. As we move with the target of ensuring piped water supply as per the strategic plan prepared by MDWS, the greatest

challenge in ensuring equity in distribution would remain those of 100% metering and conversion to 24X7 water supply. The application of principals of equity in tariff fixation often undermines

the cause of social inclusion of the poorest of the poor in water supply even if we transfer the

responsibility of management and tariff fixation to the lowest level of government i.e Gram Panchayat as per my observation.

Clearly, we need some bold moves and paradigm shifts in the way we manage our public water

supply if we want to recognise water and sanitation as basic human rights and want to ensure clean water and sanitation facilities to each and every citizen of this country as a major public

responsibility.

Vimala Ramachandran, ERU Consultants Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi

Please find a study done by us on Equity in School Water and Sanitation at ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/wes/cr/res-09041203.pdf (PDF; Size: 497KB). It also has

research tools.

D. Johnson Rhenius Jeyaseelan, Population Foundation of India, Bhopal (response 1) I have gone through the discussions and feel that we have narrowed down the discussions by only considering equity and inclusion. WASH is for all and hence the starting point should not be

equity and inclusion in WASH programmes, but ensuring WASH for all.

Both at the national and state levels, the schemes for the urban non-poor and the urban poor are

different in the urban water supply programmes. While an urban non-poor (middle class) has access to HH tap water supply, an urban poor residing in a slum only has access to community

tap stands or community sanitation blocks. The programmes, schemes and technologies are not

the same for all, there is a clear distinction between the poor and non-poor. Many programmes of the government, donors and NGOs involve poor-friendly technologies and schemes for the

poor but I wish to state that our sanitation ladder that falls under poor-friendly technologies is an imported one.

In rural areas, all communities should have the same access, but we see that the donor and NGO programmes first create the distinction of SC/ST and others. Yes they are socially deprived, but

have our WASH programmes been able to address the core problems? No. They have only created access to WASH for them but these communities have remained where they are.

People living with HIV & AIDS, the differently-abled need access to WASH more than us. Are we

seeking inclusion and equity only in programming or trying to ensure that the WASH sector, for

example, also recruits them? We need to analyse the issues from a larger perspective, and ensure WASH for all.

Trisha Agarwal, Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability, New Delhi

How does one ensure inclusion and equity in WASH programmes for women residing in

resettlement colonies is a question which may be difficult to answer in this space, however, it is worth pondering upon.

The Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (CBGA), in collaboration with Jagori,

carried out a study on Gender Responsive Budget analysis of public provisioning of water and

sanitation services in the two relocation colonies of Bawana and Bhalswa in the North West

district of Delhi in 2011. This input is part of the larger action research project on Women’s Rights and Access to Water and Sanitation in Asian Cities (2009-2011)

The findings of the study point out that policies and schemes regarding urban water and

sanitation do not have anything for women and girls although some recognise them as being

worse sufferers than men and boys. Continued low allocations towards this sector reflect the lack of political will to improve urban water and sanitation services; more so, in Jhuggi Jhopri (JJ)

relocation colonies. One needs to ask whether allocations are adequate keeping in mind the unsafe and unhygienic water and sanitation services that were found in the study area as well as

the growing population of the low-income settlements.

Considering the fact that residents of resettlement colonies in many cases do not get access to

basic services and are also not considered as citizens (since they live in ‘unauthorised’ areas), it is crucial to take into account the larger political scenario that exists.

Suneeta, Sarita, Shruti and the Jagori team, Jagori, New Delhi

This is indeed a crucial issue and we need a broad-based strategy to address it on an immediate

basis. Jagori had undertaken an action research study in partnership with Women in Cities International, Action India and IDRC (2009-2011) in two resettlement colonies of Delhi. The

objectives of the study were to highlight gender gaps in WATSAN services. The key findings of the study indicate serious concerns for women and girls:

Residents have no land tenure/license

Inadequate infrastructure: largely communal and not household

Limited government services/structures

Fragmented governance architecture, accountability issues and lack of citizenship rights

Costs of time lost due to long queues for toilets, potable water, irregular supply of water,

fetching water, etc.

Increased stress waiting for darkness for women/girls to relieve themselves

High costs of WATSAN-related ill health, eating and drinking less

Higher demands on household work – less time to do other things/explore opportunities

Household chores spill over into the streets and drains – the public private spheres merge and create several challenges for the women

Impediments to movement in the smaller lanes – compromised dignity/privacy

Inadequate maintenance of toilets, user fees and confused governance mechanisms

No dustbins for menstrual waste either in the lanes or in the CTCs and therefore bury them

or burn – both of which seem difficult because:

Girls miss school due to dirty or lack of toilets and Menstrual Health Management issues

Constant dread in accessing toilets and walking in lanes due to the water, mud and garbage in lanes

Despite their poverty, some families are going into debt to build home-based toilets

to ‘save’ girls from harassment and violence.

The key question we were confronted with was what are the social and economic costs of fear and costs of health? The disconnects observed were:

Fragmented governance and lack of gender sensitivity in policies, plans;

Cost of sanitation services are very high – no special provisions in local budgets for women

(they are always clubbed with children) Safety and health impacts are borne by women/girls, and there is meager health care

available;

Lack of community ownership, women’s fatigue and unpaid work.

In addition the CBGA study undertaken with Jagori indicated that: The per capita opportunity cost (OC) varied anywhere between Rs. 1925 to Rs. 9520 for the

unskilled category. Therefore, the time saved by women, due to improved services and

better access would invariably translate into economic gains – by means of increased production or quality time for leisure, education, etc.

It was also noted that in Delhi, in FY 2011-12, Rs. 9 crores had been spent on water supply

and Rs. 24 crores on sanitation facilities for JJ clusters, which amounts to a mere Rs. 30 on

water supply and Rs. 80 on sanitation per JJ colony resident for the year 2011-12.

For more details, the study can be accessed at: http://jagori.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/IDRC_Exec_summary.pdf and http://www.womenincities.org/pdf-

general/idrc%20final%20internet.pdf. The handbook on women's safety can be accessed at: http://jagori.org/wp-content/uploads/2006/01/Handbook1.pdf

Anuj Kumar Srivastava, PSI India, New Delhi The issue of equity has to be built in every stage of project planning and implementation. The

following steps may be useful:

1. Participatory Planning for developing Village WATSAN plans: Use of PRA techniques give us

good results and also help in developing a plan in a participatory manner. While doing the PRA we have to keep in mind to select the space reflecting the social dynamics of the village.

It also helps if we do a separate exercise with women’s groups only. The following stages can be used.

Stage 1: Constitution of Village WATSAN Planning Team in a meeting of the Gram Sabha.

The process of constitution and its membership has to address the equity issue.

Stage 2: Intensive BCC: Using rallies and nukkad natak and other mid-media activities.

Stage 3: PRA exercise; it is very critical to identify the right space for doing the PRA

activities if we really want to address the equity aspect Stage 4: Collation of the plans into one plan by the Village WATSAN Planning team;

Stage 5: Presentation of the plan in the presence of the village Water, Sanitation and

Nutrition Committee and then final ratification of the plan in the Gram Sabha.

The process takes 7-10 days and is a resource intensive one. It also involves a one day

sensitization workshop for the WATSAN planning team and the Village Water, Sanitation and Nutrition Committee. The investment is worth it as it actually leads to development

of a village water and sanitation plan which is owned by everybody in the village.

2. Site selection for installation of village handpumps or the path for the piped water supply

should be done in village meetings using the village resource map already developed during the planning stage. The same is applicable if community toilets are to be constructed.

3. Establishment of Village Sanitation Kendras in the hamlets of vulnerable population. 4. Mothers group for promoting sanitation and hand washing messages. We did an interesting

exercise - to identify the key influencers we observed the women’s groups going for open

defecation and identified the informal leader of the group. We then organized sensitization meetings for them. The legitimacy of the messages grew manifolds as they came from the

leaders. 5. Make women the central characters in all the BCC messages.

Nripendra Kumar Sarma, Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Guwahati With regard to the implementation of India’s flagship programmes in WASH and also the MDGs, it

is still a great concern to ensure social equity and inclusion of different socially marginalized /

vulnerable sections. So a well co-ordinated effort under a structured approach is the prime need

of the hour in planning and execution of WASH programmes, with adequate thrust on social equity to ensure the achievement of the desired outcomes.

In Assam, although different flagship programmes are being implemented, but we still have a

long way to go to ensure social equity and inclusion of the marginalized sections, especially the

tea garden labour community and the communities living in the char areas, etc.

The tea garden labour communities are the main workforce in the tea gardens. Each garden authority allows them to settle in a particular area inside the garden called “Labour Line”. Garden

authorities confine the labour communities in such Labour Lines by providing some sort of shelter, etc., and that too only for the permanent workers. The tea garden labour communities

are deprived because of many reasons.

Although the tea garden authorities bank heavily on the labour communities for their profits, yet

their mandate does not seem to include providing them with basic needs, like education, better health and hygiene and minimum living standard of living, etc. The more marinalised they are,

the more dependant they are on the tea garden authorities. There is no priority given to:

Better education

Good housing and living environment

Awareness and better health and hygiene approach

Basic needs of safe water and sanitation, etc

Prevention of social norms leading to many discriminatory attitudes and ill practices like

liquor, etc Efforts to increase the basic understandings on quality of life.

The char area in Assam includes different river islands and low-lying river banks, etc. Due to recurring floods these areas become vulnerable during rainy seasons. So the inhabitants from

these areas need to migrant to highland areas and come back again after the recession of floods. Thus their settlement is not permanent in nature, and because of this temporary nature the

inhabitants of these settlements do not opt for better options for their housing needs. The

different problems with the communities of the char areas are as follows: Tackling the threats of river erosion

Struggling with problems of water logging and flood menace.

Less education leading to lack of awareness on the basic understandings on quality of

life, including safe water, sanitation and hygiene practices.

Structured approach for ensuring inclusion and equity in WASH programmes and the

essential phases under such an approach / framework

In the case of the above said situation in Assam, I would like to put forward the following approach / methodologies that may perhaps be helpful for these marginalised communities:

Major thrust on education.

Social empowerment keeping the whole community in the forefront through awareness

generation drives / social audits, etc Widening the net of implementation for the government sponsored programmes

(especially WASH programmes) and the implementation should not focus on coverage

but on real usage / availability of the benefits Fixation of accountability on the concerned authorities

Ensuring the involvement of local NGOs / SHGs / CBOs for overall uplift of the

communities and also for status monitoring and evaluation, etc

Any kind social change will need constant follow-up and hence the involvement of NGOs

/ SHGs / CBOs or any other Civil Society group etc. should not be programme based

(merely for few days), but a continuous process untill the real uplift takes place.

Ensuring sustainability

UNICEF India’s next Country Programme (2013-2017) may also focus on a detailed

workplan to be implemented in an effective and inclusive manner for ensuring the

desired benefits to the grass root level users.

What are the emerging indicators that can facilitate effective monitoring of inclusion and equity in WASH?

The following indicators may prove to be useful to evaluate the status among the marginalized /

vulnerable sections in the community: The incidence of water borne diseases.

Improved health and well-being, especially for children, etc

Use of WASH facilities.

Operation and maintenance of WASH infrastructures

Overall sustainability of the approach.

In continuation of the above, what could be best option in the water and sanitation sector that can illustrate a structured and consistent approach to gender and equity

outcomes? A village WASH plan may perhaps be formulated to relieve the communities suffering from poor

WASH condition, which will eventually be helpful for streamlining implementation of WASH

programme for the whole community through the inclusion of the marginalized / vulnerable sections.

Basic goals of the village WASH plan:

Total coverage of the village households with sanitary toilets and water facilities

Promoting hygiene practices in the community

Avoiding slippage

Objective of Village WASH Plan:

The objective of the village WASH plan should be to ensure improvement of health and quality of

life through water, sanitation and hygiene promotion activities. The action plan should be to take care of both hardware and software components to facilitate use of water and sanitation facilities

and to bring about changes in hygiene behaviour of the community as a whole. The hardware activities should include sanitary infrastructure created in the village and the software activities

should aim to promote hygiene practices to prevent water and sanitation related diseases.

Implementation strategy:

Village specific implementation strategy should be formulated with the involvement of local and socially acceptable organizations like NGOs / SHGs / Mahila Samittees / other CBOs, etc. All

implementing stakeholders should be frequently involved in the interface meetings, policy

dialogue, resource sharing, planning, execution as well as operation and maintenance issues for adequate provisioning of WASH facilities for the community as a whole, with special emphasis on

the gaps and shortfalls on inclusion of the marginalized sections in the area.

Sustainability of village WASH plan: Adequate attention has to been given under the village WASH plan for inculcation of hygienic

habits and practices amongst the community through a number of software interventions. All

forms of IEC activities must be followed by appropriate hardware activities. Different stakeholders may play the role of change agents in a strategic manner, to ensure the sustainability of village

WASH plan. To establish a vital link in the sustainability chain for proper upkeep of WASH infrastructures and practice of WASH habits, a few hygiene conscious village leaders / groups

should be engaged to prioritize WASH activities amongst the communities. Some key community

representatives like teacher, CBO leadership, students and PRI members also need to extend

cooperation to sustain the village WASH plan and good practices. (Hoping UNICEF’s Country

Programme adopts more focused and result oriented strategies / action plans to facilitate the desired interventions for the marginalized / vulnerable communities).

Hanif Mujawar, Project Planning and Management Unit (PPMU), Water Supply and

Sanitation Department, Government of Maharashtra

I am working with the Jalswarajya (Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation) Project, Government of Maharashtra. The first phase of the project, funded by The World Bank, was initiated in 2003

with the aim to: a) to increase access of the rural households to improved and sustainable drinking water and sanitation services; and b) to institutionalize decentralization of service

delivery to rural local governments and communities. To get an overview of the Jalswarajya

project, please access ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/gen/cr/res25041201.pdf (PDF; Size: 1.54MB).

The hallmark of the Jalswarajya project is its inclusion and equity approach; also worth noting is

the fact that the project is community driven i.e. the scheme is fully managed by the Gram Panchayat in each village. While there are multiple examples of good practices to cite from the

project, as a response to the specific queries put forth by Aidan Cronin, I would like to share my

inputs as follows:

Any structured approaches developed for ensuring inclusion and equity in WASH programme

The Government of Maharashtra (GoM, India) has initiated a policy for entrusting the operation

and maintenance (O& M) of Rural Water Supply Schemes to the Women Self Help Groups (SHGs). Women are the main sufferers due to lack of/unavailability of water. So, it was felt that if

the management is in their hands perhaps they could manage better. In this regard, one village in district Jalna (Maharastra) named Khambegaon has taken the initiative and handed over the

affairs/business of managing water to women. The practice has been followed by a number of adjoining villages and presently around 250 villages have engaged women SHGs for daily O&M.

The women also collect the water tax and they are paid some percentage as incentive. Both the

recovery percentage as well as the service level is good. Some women have learnt/acquired the skills of minor repair works. When the above practice got noticed, GoM regularized this as a

policy and issued a government resolution (GR) requesting all the Gram Panchayats in the State to consider this.

Essential phases that have been identified under such an approach / framework? Please also suggest the phase-wise timeline if any, and phase-wise breakup of

resources. In addition, what are the essential quality checks to be kept in mind at each phase?

It may be mentioned that no outside resources were required to adopt the above practice of

handing over water management to SHGs. SHGs take care of all the resources required through their own collection. To undertake surveillance of water quality and health issues, there is an

independent mechanism of the GoM that checks/ensures that the water quality is good and that there are no health hazards. In addition to this, a district team provides technical assistance

whenever required.

Emerging indicators that can facilitate effective monitoring of inclusion and equity in

WASH? The Jalswarajya experience shows that Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSC) should

have minimum of 50 per cent representation of women (which has been made mandatory in Maharashtra). What is required is to address the lack of monitoring mechanism, which needs to

be developed so as to understand the economics/working of such committees/SHG groups. That

is, whether they are able to generate enough resources to manage their work, make profits; is it

sufficient to raise their living standards, is there any value addition because of this village level/decentralized institutional arrangement.

In continuation of the above, what could be best practices that you are aware of in

the India water and sanitation sector that can illustrate a structured and consistent

approach to gender and equity outcomes? As mentioned above, there are a number of villages under Jalswarajya with best practices. Here,

I would like to mention one of the best practices that can be seen in Rendal village in Kolhapur district. As a result of the drinking water project (which had created a Women Empowerment

Fund), women SHGs initiated an income generation activity in the form of making sanitary napkins. For this they visited Tamil Nadu and underwent some training; also entered into

collaboration with banks and other organizations which provided some technical services and

finance. Women purchased the machinery, set up a small plant, and started their production (3000 napkins per day). They are visiting schools in rural areas creating awareness among

teenage girls. Girls have also taken this concept (of hygiene) to their homes. The cost of the product is less than other brands in the market; so it is affordable. For the first time women in

rural areas have started using hygienic materials.

Members who are interested to learn more about the impact of Jalswarajya may like to access

the following link ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/gen/cr/res25041202.pdf (PDF; Size: 83 KB).

V. Kurian Baby, International Water & Sanitation Centre, The Netherlands Addressing the issues of equity and inclusion in WASH service delivery depends critically on the

dynamics of the political economy of water and sanitation. The achievements of a programme hinge also on a configuration of enabling factors and externalities, like the decentralization

process, the powerful the SHG movement and the economic growth and income. We have to keep in mind that sustainable WASH services shall be constructed on the multi-characteristics of

WASH as a public-common property resource, an essential part of basic human rights and at the

same time an economic good.

Judged from the outcome, our experiments under Jalanidhi (KRWSSA) programme in Kerala has demonstrated the success of a structured approach. Some of the elements may also be useful for

future WASH programmes. In the general backdrop of elitist capture, studies have shown that

52% of the participating households belong to BPL and 16% from the SC/ST as against the state poverty line of 36%. Over 35% of all key beneficiary community functionaries are women and

the indigenous community component for Scheduled Tribes under Jalandihi could complete 162 small water supply schemes with INR 8.4 million as community capital contribution in the

excluded areas. In terms of scale, about 3700 small schemes with 100% house connections and

over 80000 sanitary latrines (including conversion of leach pits) have been completed under the programme covering about 1.1 million population in 4 project districts. These schemes are 100%

managed by communities with full O&M cost recovery including electricity charges. SEE exercise also reveals well over 95% sustainability, although over a decade communities have started

facing the brunt of capital replacement and gaps in professional post-construction support. The WASH sector has tremendous potential in transforming the gender divide into gender dividend as

a tool for sustainability.

During the planning stage we did an independent social assessment to identify vulnerabilities and

special groups/indigenous communities that require targeted safety nets for inclusion. Inclusion and equity elements were built consciously into the project design and embedded into the

implementation and monitoring framework. The programme has developed an indigenous

people’s component specifically for target Scheduled Tribe communities in the project area with

differential scheme cycle and capacity building elements. As a demand driven project, inclusion was ensured through capital contribution in installments spread over a longer period, partial

labour contribution and community contracting to include unskilled workers from the communities, financing through SHG linkages and triggering elements of market for poor (M4P)

through supporting women micro-enterprises. The destitute and vulnerable left out, if any, are

included through the GP budget support. Cross-subsidization is generally discouraged as it will undermine equity and voice. A minimum 1/3rd of key community functionaries have to be

women under the registered by-law and the stipulation scrupulously adhered to. Additionally, the treasurer of the beneficiary community that manages community contracting shall only be

women and they are trained in accounting and management, supported by a professional agency hired by the project. The support organizations are made accountable under contractual

obligation and payment linked to deliverables.

A menu of technology options were provided depending on the community’s ability and

willingness to pay with built in up-gradation options. Under the follow up programme, a separate component for inclusive technologies was guaranteed to ensure last mile inclusion so that even

an isolated household or a small group of 3-4 households normally living under hostile terrain

with technology challenges have to be taken into the project fold under appropriate cost-sharing options. Most importantly exclusion and inequity are manifestations of empowerment gaps and

hence a well-structured bottom-up capacity building strategy based on need assessment has been integrated and software elements occupied a significant part of the total cost and

considered as investment in human capital. Both quantitative and qualitative equity and gender indicators have been built into the monitoring framework. Project subsidies (75% capital cost for

water and 30% for sanitation) have been used to bridge the investment capacity gaps only after

generating threshold demand levels. We could not, however, do much in targeting differentially-abled and sick people (say suffering from HIV) during the first phase. All said and done, the

success largely depends on the commitment and vision instilled in the programme at all levels supported by powerful external enabling environment like decentralized governance. One should

also have the courage to resist compulsions of targets and to follow a conscious process-driven

approach for genuine results.

Sanjay Singh, Parmarth Samaj Sevi Sansthan, Orai, District Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh Please share with us any structured approaches developed by you or any other

organization known to you for ensuring inclusion and equity in WASH programmes

Formation and strengthening of Community Based Organizations with higher

representation of socially excluded communities as Dalits, ST, minority members/leaders with focus on women towards creating awareness on water and sanitation rights so that

these village level community based organization can take up the lead role in addressing the immediate needs of water and sanitation issues

Demystification of the technical knowledge related to WASH, which helped in ensuring

maintenance of water resources in the particular areas

Cadre building of socially excluded groups as change makers with an aim to use their

inherent potential as well as prepare them as social capital towards promotion and mobilization of the community members, and towards assertion of their rights and

entitlements Preparation of participatory planning and implementation with focus on socially excluded

groups and women and its legitimization in the gram sabha meeting for ensuring

effective implementation of community’s own plan Sectoral institutional engagement for getting the support and solidarity of other

programmes/schemes in favour of socially excluded groups such as Mahatama Gandhi

National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Total Sanitation Committee, Drinking Water

Schemes, Jal Nigam programme, etc Facilitating transparency exercise under the leadership of community based organization

for protection and safeguarding of rights of socially excluded groups – this exercise will

further helping in ensuring effective, transparent and accountable implementation of government programme/schemes in favour of eligible socially excluded group in a non-

discriminatory manner

Developing community’s own participatory model towards securing water and sanitation

rights in the interest of socially excluded groups – further these model will be shared with government functionaries for ensuring wider replication for increasing access and

control over water and sanitation resources Influencing public campaign and pressure building for raising the concerns of the socially

excluded groups towards their redressal.

What are the essential phases that have been identified under such an approach /

framework? Please also suggest the phase-wise timeline if any, and phase-wise

breakup of resources. In addition, what are the essential quality checks to be kept in mind at each phase?

Situational and gap analysis among SCs/STs groups in comparison with other category

Awareness building, organizing community and strengthening their capabilities and skills

Cadre building

Formation, revitalization and strengthening of CBOs

Participatory planning and sectoral engagement

Model creation in favour of socially excluded groups

Networking and advocacy

What are the emerging indicators that can facilitate effective monitoring of inclusion

and equity in WASH? No. of excluded community members associated in CBOs

No. of socially excluded groups who have participated in the capacity building training

programmes

No. of dalit/ST/minority/women identified as cadre/change makers

No. of excluded people who have benefitted from government water and sanitation

programmes

Increased accessibility and control in the management of water resources of

dalit/ST/minority/women over control and management of water resources No. of excluded community members who have come forward and demanded their rights

and entitlements mainly over water and sanitation

No. of dalit/ST/minority/women who participated in Gram Sabha and decision making

platforms No. of issues presented by dalit/ST/minority/women in the gram sabha and were

addressed

Long term sustainable livelihood resources developed in favour of excluded community

and enhancement of their economic status

Increasing budget allocation in favour of socially excluded groups through various

government programmes No. of water models created and revived in areas with dalit/ST/minority/women

No. of excluded groups with enhanced self esteem and confidence level

Percentage allocation and utilization of budget on WASH in favour of dalits/SC/ST groups

In continuation of the above, what could be best practices that you are aware of in the India water and sanitation sector that can illustrate a structured and consistent

approach to gender and equity outcomes?

Cadre building

Community based participatory planning and its implementation

School programme on WASH

Gender budgeting

Budget tracking and transparency exercise

Interface camp in the presence of diversified stakeholders and sensitization of

government functionaries, leaders/members of Panchayati Raj bodies on inclusion,

gender and equity issues

Thomas Palgadhmal, Watershed Organization Trust, Maharashtra Please share with us any structured approaches developed by you or any other

organization known to you for ensuring inclusion and equity in WASH programmes

Watershed Organization Trust (WOTR) is engaged in promoting and up-scaling NRM on watershed lines in the drought-prone/water scarcity areas in different parts of the country (5

states in India). While implementing watershed development work, efforts are taken to build the capacities of women who are empowered by organizing them in SHGs and SMS (Apex federated

body of the SHGs) at the village level and escalating the responsibility of women’s development, public works as well as village development activities.

While implementing watershed development work, under the women’s development activities, generally, women give high priority to addressing drinking water problems in villages. Therefore,

WOTR’s major focus is on demand-driven participatory approaches in drinking water and sanitation projects, which gives women greater access, voice and choice in the implementation of

drinking water and sanitation activities. This has resulted in increase participation of women and

has ensured the chances of providing sustainable services and adoption of improved hygiene practices.

Besides this, WOTR also promotes some small drinking water and sanitation projects supported

by BPR and other funding agencies, where communities face acute drinking water problems.

It is WOTR’s policy that all drinking water and sanitation activities should be implemented by

women’s groups i.e. Women’s Water Supply and Sanitation Committees. These women’s committees are the main actors and implementers of drinking water and sanitation projects in

their villages, with the support of the GPs and communities. The project funds are transferred to the women committee’s bank account. The technical and social mobilization support is provided

by WOTR’s implementation unit.

Besides the above small drinking water projects in the watershed areas, WOTR has implemented

some drinking water and sanitation projects under the Integrated Domestic Water Management (IWDM) project in four districts of Maharashtra. Under this programme, we have established

drinking water and sanitation committees, which are the sub-committees of the GP as per the GP

act 1958 (under Article 49). There is a requirement of 50% women members in the committees as per the Act.

Thus, for the implementation of drinking water and sanitation projects we have either the

women’s committee or the sub-committees of the GP having women’s representation of 50%.

Social Equity: While implementing drinking water and sanitation projects, WOTR focuses on

achieving social equity. While planning projects, the priority is given to the marginalized and most vulnerable community from the village/hamlet.

Equity in water distribution/water pricing: Generally, drinking water is provided either through

individual tap connections or through common stand posts. However, there is no control on water usage, or the pricing of water on a volumetric basis. The water tax is collected on a flat

rate, for example Rs.360 per year in case of common stand post and Rs.500 for individual tap connections. In order to ensure equity in water tax, we have installed individual/group water

meters in three drinking water supply projects. This experience has been found to be useful in

many ways, such as judicious use of water and water savings, timely repayment of the water tax and water pricing on a volumetric basis. Those who consume more water pay more and those

who consume less water pay accordingly.

What are the essential phases that have been identified under such an approach / framework? Please also suggest the phase-wise timeline if any, and phase-wise

breakup of resources. In addition, what are the essential quality checks to be kept in

mind at each phase?

Phase

Time-line Resources/inputs Monitoring aspects

General awareness phase

3 months Assessing technical and social feasibility,

collection of village data, PRA, awareness

campaigns (audio-

visuals, corner meetings, Fixed Group

Discussions (FGD), home visits,

community

mobilization and organising

Gramsabha/women’s Gramsabha, exposure

visits

Willingness of the community; response,

level of participation in PRA and other

awareness campaign

activities.

Attendance of men and women in the

Gram Sabhas

Number of SHGs,

participation in trainings, proper

presentation to all community members

(all castes, weaker

sections, vulnerable groups, and location-

wise), participatory monitoring.

Institution formation

(SHGs, SMS, Water committee and other

sub-committees and

CBOs)

3 months Formation of

SHGs/SMS (federated body of SHGs),

training of SHGs and

SMS, formation of water committee, and

other sub committees (purchase committee,

supervision committees, social

audit committee,

etc.), exposure visits, capacity

building/various trainings to the

committees.

Number of SHGs,

effectiveness and efficiency of members

in SHGs and SMS, and

all other sub-committees.

Regularity in

meetings, records and proceedings of the

meetings, discussions

held and resolutions passed.

What are the emerging indicators that can facilitate effective monitoring of inclusion

and equity in WASH? WOTR has developed some participatory monitoring tools such as Qualitative Assessment

Matrices (QAM), Peer Group Assessment, Impact Monitoring Assessment (PIM), etc. which are

regularly conducted in our watershed projects. On the same lines, we have developed the above three participatory tools for drinking water and sanitation projects. These tools have been tested

and applied in IDWM projects (drinking water and sanitation projects). These tools are very effective and useful for participatory monitoring.

Satish C. Raghu, Rural Environment & Community Health Awareness Society (RECHA), Betul, Madhya Pradesh (response 1) We are based in the tribal areas of Betul district, Madhya Pradesh. Since 1978 we have been installing India Mark II hand pumps and IM III 65 and 50 mm pumps from Mahasagar Pumps.

The details of the project, involving community participation with a strong gender component can be found at ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/wes/cr/res-09041204.docx (DOC; Size:

24.5KB)

Mathew Mattam Luckose, WaterAid India, Pune

The main focus of WaterAid India programmes at the Regional Office West is the focus on excluded communities as well as excluded areas. There are a large number people who are

excluded from basic services, either because they do not have the knowledge or because they do

not have the access to it. We began with adequately building capacities of our partner organizations to get segregated data, in terms of the number of people who were excluded in our

project area. The first attempt was to help the partner imbibe the values of education and information. We strongly feel that unless our partners have a basic understanding of these

values, it will be difficult for us to reach the most excluded communities as well as the most

deprived areas. The partners are slowly integrating these values in their work and we are seeing visible results. We are not only focusing on the excluded communities, but also the excluded

areas in our work, for example small towns as well as districts or blocks were the maximum number of excluded people live.

In a country like India, where the impact development does not reach everyone and everywhere, the role of non-governmental organizations is to focus on the most excluded people and areas

and these are the places where one has to choose to achieve equity and inclusion. Due to social, cultural, economic and political deprivation, either some sections of the population or some parts

of the country are continuously deprived of the benefits of the growth which India has achieved. I am providing two case studies below.

Case Study 1: Nayapura village of Agrota Panchayat in Morena district of Madhya Pradesh is a backward community village, inhabited by 50 households. The majority of the community is

engaged in farming while about 20% are daily wage labourers. The village does not have electricity.

Nayapura did not have a single toilet and hence all people were defecating in open. Existing VHSC in the village was non-functional. Dharti strengthened the VHSC and motivated people to

adopt safe defecation. The work has started and 5 toilets have been built till date and work is in progress for another 13 toilets. A toilet constructed in the village has changed the life of a

disabled person - Mr. Rajendra Prasad, aged 29 years. He is badly affected by polio and had severe problem as he had to almost crawl to distant places for defecation, sometimes at odd

hours. After completion of the toilet in his home, three other disabled persons from the village

also got motivated and have started constructing toilets. Having the facility at home has eased the problems of Rajendra Prasad to a great extent and now he is a main source of inspiration for

other households to persuade them for adopting safe defecation.

Case Study 2: Sukhobai lives in Harijan Basti (Scheduled Caste hamlet) of Nayapura village of

Khireta Panchayat of Ambaha block in Morena district. The village has 90 Scheduled Caste families who were discriminated against by people of other castes and were facing problems in

getting water. The intervention of Dharti inspired them to fight against this fear and discrimination and to take their right. 75 year old sukhobai says with her trembling hands,”Ab to

Ganga maiyya ghar me aa gayi hai, ab nati natin ko pani bharne nahi jaana padta” (Mother Ganges has came home and now my grandchildren don’t have to queue for water).

The area being a part of the Chambal ravine was in the grip of the feudal system. Water was not easily available to the scheduled caste communities. A committee was formed under the

leadership of Mr. Lal Singh who took command of local leadership and the community got together to bring a change in the situation. With the help of WaterAid and Dharti a water supply

scheme was implemented here but this was not liked by the upper caste community. They

disconnected the electricity connection and made the scheme non-functional. The SC community hired a generator to run the scheme but it proved too costly. The community approached the

electricity department and the tribal department for necessary help and the connection to their hamlet was given by the department. The community shared the cost of pole erection and some

other accessories and finally water reached the homes of the SC community. Sanju a 13 years old girl of village says “Pehle to pani lane me hi saara time nikal jata tha aur school ke liye der ho

jaati thi, Ab hum ½ ghanta pehle hi school ke liye tayyar ho jate hain” (Initially, all the time was

spent in fetching water, which delayed us from going to school but now we reach school half an hour before time).

Aparajita Dasgupta, All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Kolkata

All is well if the female child is not neglected. WASH is a wonderful concept/dream but the impact

has to be effectively wholesome. For the latter, there must not only be adequate water but also adequate privacy to use that water.

Recently a study was conducted by us where we observed that there were a large proportion of

adolescent school girls suffering from signs and symptoms of RTI and UTI. When we delved into

this, we realised that the school toilets were in a pathetic state as far as privacy, cleanliness, hygiene, water supply and collection of waste was concerned. The number of bathrooms was

very few compared to the number of students, most did not have latches and many did not have any doors. Running water was a luxury, which only a few schools were privileged to possess. As

a result, absenteeism was very common among these girls during their "difficult" days. Change of

absorbents was just out of the question in the schools (due to the lack of water, privacy and sanitation). There was indiscriminate throwing of the absorbents and menstrual hygiene

management was very poor, which explained the high rates of RTI and UTI among them.

In the rural area, washing of absorbents is done in the ponds (again leading to lack of privacy) and drying them in cowsheds is a general practice (away from prying eyes). The situation is

worse in urban slums where a bathroom is often shared by more that 50 families and the women

bathe literally on the streets, often drying the washed absorbents under their beds.

Therefore, successful execution of WASH may not bring a successful impact on the health status of women unless concurrently steps are taken regarding the above lacunae with regard to

menstrual hygiene.

Vijaya Shah, Indian Institute of Youth Welfare, Nagpur The Indian Institute of Youth Welfare has been running the DEWATS-CBS programme since

2002, which is supported by CDD BORDA. It focuses mainly on water, sanitation and health. To make the programme a success our approach involves people’s participation at the community

level by forming sanitation committees, water committees, health committees and operation and

maintenance committees to look after the cleanliness of toilets. The programme involves the following:

Conducting review meeting of the committee and conducting a planning meeting every

month. Ensuring 60 per cent participation of women in each committee.

Women and men from the community are involved in the identification of problems,

evaluation and follow up.

To empower women, SHGs have been formed.

This year the Indian Institute of Youth Welfare withdrew yet committees are still looking after the DEWATs plant and ensuring maintenance of the toilets and our project team continues to be in

contact with them.

Indicators: We assessed the hygienic and sanitation practices and the knowledge of the communities

before and after the project was started. For this we developed questionnaires on health

and hygiene. We assessed the sanitation infrastructure through site visits and assessed the knowledge

of people about safe and potable water and their practices through focus group discussions, meetings, based on the following parameter:

Use of latrine by families, particularly women

Increase in sanitation infrastructure

Distance for collecting water: distance between the water source and households and

time spent by women to collect water

Adoption of eco-friendly habits

Assessment regarding inculcation of hygienic habits, mortality rates for both mothers and children

Women’s involvement in development activities

Incidence of diseases and expenses.

Women’s involvement in livelihood generation

During pregnancy and post delivery use of sanitation facilities to take care of the child

and mother, focusing on both physical and mental health.

D. Johnson Rhenius Jeyaseelan, Population Foundation of India, Bhopal (response 2) NGOs and donors tend to have this philosophy that people are not aware and do not have the required knowledge. The problem is that today people are aware and have better knowledge but

the problem is that we do not know where to go with our baggage. We have to make people

aware of their entitlements and rights and be a facilitator and work with governments, for this is what people lack. Also, when we work on equity and inclusion our agenda of WASH should take a

backseat and people's priority should be taken first in the equity and inclusion programmes. When people's priorities are addressed successfully, other things like WASH will automatically

happen through motivation. There are examples where employment was successfully addressed

through NREGS and thereafter, issues of WASH were successfully addressed.

When I worked in the Maharahstra sector reform project, the communities had a better idea

about water technologies than engineers and with regard to IWRM people had far great practical solutions. Today UP has Ambedkar Yogana, Bihar has Maha Dalit Vikas Mission for the excluded,

yet NGOs and donors prefer not to work with governments on these schemes.

Thus in equity and inclusion programmes, equity and inclusion should be addressed

comprehensively rather than addressing it for WASH alone. By this approach the excluded will be more empowered.

B.B. Samanta, New Delhi

What Aparajita, has written is one part of the story. Only ensuring equity in providing water and

sanitation facility is not adequate unless it is combined with awareness generation on hygiene and its adoption. The HePA Report is one such document that shows how hygiene education over

a period of three years has brought considerable changes in several processes and its impacts on adolescent girls. Hygiene education to be sustainable has to be institutionalized through schools

(for school going girls) and through other programmes like 'Sabala'.

Satish C. Raghu, Rural Environment & Community Health Awareness Society

(RECHA), Betul, Madhya Pradesh (response 1)* Rural communities are aware of their needs, particularly with regard to water problems but lack

in technical matters. A lot has been done by donors, PIA and through government schemes and programmes. The main emphasis should be given to properly organized motivation and

community mobilization. Rural water supply mainly depends on the performance of a hand pump.

Adequate water supply is the focal point for the success of WASH activities for urban and rural areas. Water supply through hand pumps requires the following for a sustainable system:

A. Five Important Aspects: 1. Quality of handpump 2. Quality of Installation 3. Quality of

Maintenance 4. Quality of Training 5. Quality of community participation

B. Seven ‘M” for success of Hand pump program: 1. Money 2. Management 3. Manpower

4. Mobility 5. Material 6. Maintenance – Preventive and curative 7. Motivation

C. The performance of the hand pump depends on the following

Water table

Alternate water sources Accepted by users

Geological formation

Awareness and motivation towards: Clean water usage, Health and sanitation

Manufacturing Standard

Another important issue one must consider is the present condition of the hand pump and how

old it is and its worn out parts must be replaced. Communities will gladly take the responsibility of a good hand pump.

Umesh Chandra Gaur, Confederation of Community Based Organisations of India,

New Delhi * In the installation of wells for water pumps, there are steps to ensure quality. The performance of hand pumps depends on the level of the water table, the geologic formation and the flux of

water in the area as well as the mechanics of the pump itself. These measures can be difficult to ensure in rural areas. In the construction of a well, the water table level should be measured,

and the deeper a well is the better the quality of the drinking water. In the development of

WASH programmes in rural areas there must be a framework to ensure inclusion of community in the project and gender equality within the project.

An initial effort must be made towards community education on the benefits of the WASH

programme and maintenance of hand pumps. Education ensures sustainability of WASH

programmes in each community. If a community understands their water supply, where it comes from and how the hand pump works, it allows for maintenance by the communities themselves.

This can only be reached with support, and knowledge of water quality outside the community to

allow for consistent acquisition of safe drinking water to rural communities. Thus, those educating a community must be the ones who ensure the quality of the water.

A problem exists in identifying the communities in need of WASH programmes the most. This problem exists especially within the marginalized and socially vulnerable groups. Outreach needs

to be established in order to indentify communities in need of WASH programmes.

A potential way of improving gender equity in WASH programmes is in equity and total

community inclusion in the education process. Education for communities provides them with the means to operate sustainably, with gender equity due to inclusive education in the programmes.

Effective monitoring can be established through education, and materials to be distributed in

addition to materials for hand pumps. pH measurements are indicative of changes in the water, and can be used as a cheap and effective means of monitoring changes in water coming from

hand pumps.

These are suggestions which I have put forward towards improvements and concerns within

WASH programmes regarding the issues that have been raised. Comments on the concerns and suggestions would be welcome.

Many thanks to all who contributed to this query! If you have further information to share on this topic, please send it to Solution Exchange for the Water Community in India at se-wes_se-gen@solutionexchange-un.net.in with the subject heading “Re: [se-watr] [se-gen] Query: Ensuring Inclusion and Equity in WASH Programmes - Experiences; Examples. Additional Reply.” Disclaimer: In posting messages or incorporating these messages into synthesized responses, the UN accepts no responsibility for their veracity or authenticity. Members intending to use or transmit the information contained in these messages should be aware that they are relying on their own judgment.

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