How Effective Are Community Washrooms in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan?
Introduction
Sanitation is something that everybody requires; however, due to certain reasons, this necessity cannot be provided to several million people living all around the globe. First of all, there are those individuals who do not have any choice other than using overcrowded latrines and those who do not have any choice other than resorting to open defecation.
However, the problem under consideration is responsible for not only causing people immense distress but also poses a threat to their health as well as makes them vulnerable in terms of the environment. It makes their movement difficult and prevents them from achieving their goals.
However, the issue transcends toilets and drainage systems because it is an inherently human issue. Communities that require the most assistance will continue shouldering the bulk of the responsibility until sanitation is recognized as the fundamental human right that it is.
According to WHO, there are over 1.5 billion people who do not have any kind of adequate sanitation facilities and are thus compelled to resort to open defecation.
Understanding the situation as a serious challenge that was faced by the nation, the Government of India took the drastic step of launching two such revolutionary schemes that are the SBM-G scheme which is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and SBM-U scheme which is undertaken by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
Both these programs that were launched in the year 2014 by the Honorable Prime Minister proved to be path-breaking steps in the direction towards achieving sanitation in India. With a rich history of people-led efforts and a firm commitment shown by the Indian government towards this cause, the Swachh Bharat Mission, aims at making India free of open defecation.
However, this vision was not limited merely to building toilets; it also focused on providing health benefits, economic opportunities, environmental safeguards and, most importantly, ensuring dignity and safety for all those women who have been living their lives in fear and humiliation because of the lack of sanitation.
In accordance with these initiatives, DevInsights have been integral in improving sanitation results at the grassroots level. This has been possible through joint research projects carried out in several states, including Uttarakhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh, by DevInsights along with WaterAid India. This project has enabled us to gain more insight into the existing problems related to sanitation.
Through analysis of various aspects such as technological advancement, design flaws, execution issues, and use of toilets in different locations, recommendations for achieving sustainable results can be made with respect to being ODF.
Swachh Bharat Mission: Phases
The Swachh Bharat Mission was initiated in phases in order to improve sanitation in India.
Swachh Bharat Mission: Phases
The Swachh Bharat Mission was initiated in phases in order to improve sanitation in India.
Phase 1 (2014-2019): The Foundation Phase ODF Status Attainment
This phase involved only one objective, namely the end of open defecation, which resulted in the construction of household toilets and community toilets across the nation. Families and communities were encouraged to ensure that they had a toilet system in place, even the basic one.
Phase 2 (2020-2025): Beyond Infrastructure Construction: ODF+ and Sustainability
This phase brought about a change in attitude from the SBM. It was no longer sufficient to build toilets; rather, the objective now became the utilization of toilets, maintenance of the constructed facilities, and durability of the installations. This phase brought the implementation of solid and liquid waste management and sanitation complexes for communities along witha focus on the cleanliness of villages.
Swachh Bharat Mission Urban (SBM-U) in Urban Areas
For urban areas, the mission adopted a more holistic approach and emphasized the construction of public toilets. Besides, efforts were made towards improving the waste management system. However, the problem of accessibility, sanitation, and maintenance of such toilets still persists.
Access vs. Functionality: Will Building More Toilets Work?
In India, there are over 2.53 lakh Community Sanitary Complexes (CSCs) constructed in the rural parts and more than 6.36 lakh community and public toilet seats created in the urban parts up until April2026. It cannot be denied that this is an excellent accomplishment.
It has made sanitation available to the slum and village population who previously had no such access at all. But this is where the crucial point arises – is access alone enough for having an impact? Infrastructural development in its entirety is just one component; it is essential but only in terms of its functionality.
Reality Check: Problems Faced by the Community in Their Everyday Lives
For all those millions who depend upon community lavatories for their daily needs, this is not just an issue with statistics but with their personal experiences too. All of them have to endure dirty toilets, dysfunctional plumbing, absence of soap, and an overload of users. When there is no one to use the washrooms anymore, their unusability results in the issue of sharing one single toilet stall that is very uncomfortable and dangerous at the same time.
There are no other available options as far as toilets are concerned, so it means that the citizens will have to use these washrooms irrespective of how bad they may be.
The Gap Between Construction and Usage
However, one painful reality still persists in the face ofthe colossal financial expenditure on the development of sanitation facilities by the government - not every built toilet will necessarily be used. Indeed, the persistence of open defecation practices in various communities is evidence of a more serious and intricate problem than mere construction.
Indeed, there are many facilities that have not taken the diversity of their users into account and therefore fail to accommodate the elderly and disabled who cannot use such toilets and lack any form of decency elsewhere. Furthermore, the problem of congestion negates any efforts at sanitation; too many people make it impractical.
For women, things get even worse. As they cannot stay out past operating hours and sanitation becomes inaccessible once night falls. Absence of gender-segregated sanitation facilities makes basic needs an issue of security, one that most women resolve alone and under cover of darkness each day. The consequences extend beyond mere discomfort. In terms of the health impacts, including UTIs, one documented effect is that women delay use of public facilities. Finally, there is a subtle yet significant erosion of dignity, something few sanitation reports take into account.
Sanitation equality goes beyond numbers, it’s about everyone, whatever their age or disability, having access to a clean and safe toilet.
Solutions: Ensuring That the Community Washrooms Serve Their Purpose
For any positive impact to be sustained, the emphasis should no longer remain on construction alone but should move towards proper management, inclusiveness, and functionality of these facilities every single day.
Better Maintenance and Management
The true indicator of the success of the Swachh Bharat Mission would come from their sustainability and maintenance rather than their construction. Facilities that are constructed without having allocated maintenance budgets are sure to deteriorate very soon after being constructed.
Availability of Basic Amenities
As it should be known that a latrine which is not provided with basic amenities like water, soap, and lighting cannot be counted as a solution, but just another brick structure. For any proper working latrine, it is imperative to provide water supply, lighting, soap, and proper waste-disposal mechanism. In case of densely packed areas like urban slums, where many peopleuse one block, it is highly essential to ensure uninterrupted flow of services, otherwise people may be left with no other option but to use the environment as a toilet.
Safety for Women
The two aspects are interrelated in the case of women. It becomes highly essential to take sanitation and safety into account while building separate latrines. Incineration of waste produced during menstruation, separate entrance to the toilet, and proper lighting are essential rather than optional considerations in this case, especially since it will reduce health problems such as urinary infections
Accessible Infrastructure for the Vulnerable
There should be infrastructure designed considering the special needs of the elderly population in India and those suffering from disability, which are estimated at 2.21%. Ramps with a ratio of 1:12, supportive railings, and large entrance gates for easy access by those on wheelchairs are some of the considerations that should be made for the disabled. Lack of accessibility infrastructure implies that the most vulnerable segments of the population have been denied access to facilities meant for them.
Community Participation and Behavior Modification
This can be best achieved by forming a Committee for Sanitation amongst the community members, thus ensuring that the task of keeping things clean falls on the shoulders of the community members. This will ensure that sanitation is deeply rooted within the community.
The Importance of Parental Influence in Sanitation Practices
It is worth noting that reform often does not begin with a legislative process; it starts with a conversation held inside your house. Parents are important contributors in educating kids early about the dangers associated with open defecation, about the importance of the practice of dignity, and how to remain safe when using unsafe sanitation facilities. More importantly, parents of today are the first in their generation to utter, “We will no longer engage in such practices.” This silent yet revolutionary process in people’s houses is precisely what will convert infrastructural developments into reforms.
What Lies Ahead
Indeed, it is laudable that so much has already been accomplished through initiatives like Swachh Bharat and AMRUT. However, what comes next is no less than establishing new objectives related to the building of toilets. Instead, the current objective should be towards building a facility that is safe, convenient, and respectful enough for anyone to use for his/her biological needs.
References
World Health Organization. (2019). Drinking water, sanitation and hygiene: Key facts.
Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India (SBM-G Phase IIGuidelines)
Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase II: 2020–2025
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (SBM-U Guidelines)
Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0
Government of India. (2014). Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM): Guidelines. Ministry of Urban Development.
