Improving access to water and sanitation infrastructure in Indore slums

Background: Poor water and sanitation infrastructure is responsible for 50% child mortality in urban slums1. Hence it is imperative to address this issue in these vulnerable settlements.

Purpose: To increase access and usage of toilets and piped water through renovation of community toilets and linkage with water and sanitation infrastructure programs in Indore slums.

Methodology: Renovation of two community toilet complexes and construction of household level toilets through linkages with slum sanitation programs was facilitated. Renovation of toilet blocks included fitting of steel doors, overhead water-storage tank, pipelines to flushing system and repair of septic tank. Water supply was ensured through partnership with Indore Municipal Corporation to make toilet complexes optimally functional. Slum-based groups, who received training on significance of use of toilets in disease prevention, took responsibility for maintenance of renovated community toilets.

Slum families were linked to water and sanitation infrastructure programs and encouraged to partially invest in toilets and piped water supply. Use of toilets was also encouraged.

Results: Households access to piped water supply increased from 14.9 to 18.8% between 2003 and 2006. Use of sanitary facility by households for disposal of excreta increased from 59.1% to 63.8%. Disposal of feces of children <3 years into toilets increased from 4.7 to 7.9% and usage of toilets by children < 3 years increased from 14.1 to 27.1%.

Conclusion: Building linkages with municipal bodies and capacity building of community representatives help promote sanitation behaviors in slums and facilitate construction, maintenance and usage of water and sanitation infrastructure.