It’s 3AM in the morning, and the women of the village are making their way towards the outskirts and outer fields. This trip is not to work in the fields or get water; it is to relieve themselves, because they don’t have access to a toilet. 

Sanitation is a cornerstone of public health, yet its impact on women’s health and dignity remains an often-overlooked facet of global development. Inadequate access to proper sanitation facilities perpetuates cycles of poverty, aggravates health risks, and compromises the fundamental dignity of millions of women worldwide. 

According to the World Health Organization reports (WHO), 2.2 billion people globally lack access to safely managed drinking water services, and 3.6 billion lack access to safely managed sanitation. This widespread crisis disproportionately affects women, whose unique biological, social, and cultural needs make them particularly vulnerable.

The many ways in which how sanitation impacts women’s health

For those who live in the city and have access to clean water and proper functioning toilets, this might seem inconsequential, but talk to women in the most rural interiors of India and they will tell you how inadequate sanitation is actually a part of their lives. What many might not realise is the fact that improper sanitation leads to several health-related issues and some of them include: 

  1. Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): The absence of hygienic toilet facilities often forces women to delay urination, leading to UTIs or Urinary Tract Infection. Studies and data from local health centres would probably show how several women in rural India might have suffered from a UTI at some point and might not have even realised the same.
  2. Reproductive Tract Infections (RTIs): Poor menstrual hygiene management is often a direct consequence of inadequate sanitation. In several parts of rural India, there is a lack of access to proper menstrual products and hygiene education and that can lead to not just reproductive tract infections, but also other complications. 
  3. Maternal health risks: Pregnant women with no access to clean toilets are at greater risk of infections, including sepsis, a leading cause of maternal mortality. The problems increase once the newborn arrives, because there is no access for their hygiene and sanitary needs either. 
  4. Malnutrition and anaemia: Open defecation, although reducing drastically, is still a practise in several parts of the country and contributes to high rates of diarrhoea and intestinal worm infections. These conditions disproportionately affect women and girls, who often prioritize family members’ nutrition over their own, worsening malnutrition and anaemia. 

The impact of sanitation on the emotional and social well being of women in rural India

If one were to think that the importance of sanitation was restricted only to physical wellbeing, it wouldn’t be farther from the truth, because there are psychological and social implications too. 

  1. The lack of private toilet facilities forces many women to defecate in open areas, often under the cover of darkness to avoid harassment. This compromises their dignity and increases their vulnerability to physical violence and sexual assault. 
  2. Adolescent girls frequently drop out of school due to the absence of gender-sensitive toilets. According to a UNESCO report of 2021, nearly 2.3 crore girls in India have had to leave school upon reaching puberty because of inadequate menstrual hygiene facilities. 
  3. Constant anxiety about privacy and safety increases stress and undermines overall mental well-being. Women in rural areas often report feelings of shame and humiliation due to the lack of proper sanitation.

The true importance of sanitation in India

While many might not believe, there is a deeply intertwined relationship between sanitation and gender equality. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which ensures availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, can actually not be achieved without addressing the gender-specific challenges women face. 

Empowering women through improved sanitation not only enhances their health and dignity but also unlocks their potential to contribute meaningfully to society. But to tackle these issues, there has to be a cooperative and concerted effort from not just the government, but also the private sector and of NGOs. 

  1. Investing in gender-sensitive infrastructure: There is a need to design toilets to cater to the needs of women, including privacy, menstrual hygiene management and most importantly, safety. 
  2. Leveraging technology: Innovations such as eco-friendly toilets and solar-powered water systems can enhance the sustainability of sanitation projects. This is where Project Chirag is excelling; we have been working with rural communities to ensure access to clean water, as and when it is needed. 
  3. Promoting behavior change: Awareness campaigns can help communities prioritize sanitation and hygiene. Programs should address cultural taboos surrounding menstruation and sanitation. 

4. Collaborating with NGOs: Organizations like Project Chirag are acting as catalysts for change by implementing scalable and community-focused solutions.

Here is how Project Chirag understands the importance of sanitation for women

Although the government has been playing its part in helping build toilets and bringing clean water to more parts of the country, the role that NGOs like Project Chirag play is much larger. Our approach to holistic rural development often intersects with issues of water and sanitation and here are some things that we have set into motion:

  • Access to clean water is a prerequisite for improved sanitation and by installing solar-powered water pumps in rural areas, we are helping ensure a reliable and sustainable water supply, which is critical for hygiene practices. 
  • Our emphasis on community-driven models ensures that sanitation projects are not only implemented but also maintained. Training sessions and awareness campaigns help rural women understand the importance of hygiene and safe sanitation practices. 
  • Recognizing the unique challenges faced by women, our initiatives prioritize solutions that directly benefit them. For instance, improving access to water reduces the burden on women and girls, who traditionally spend hours fetching water, thereby enabling them to focus on education and livelihoods. 

It is interesting to note that the importance of sanitation for women is not just about women alone; it is about the entire community. Targeted efforts can empower women, improve health outcomes, and foster sustainable development and by prioritizing sanitation, we can take a significant step toward achieving gender equality and ensuring that every woman lives with dignity and respect. 

And in a community where women thrive, progress is just around the corner.

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