Righting an insanitary wrong

Indian citizens are campaigning for a justiciable right to water and sanitation. Mamata Dash of WaterAid speaks to IWP about the right and its importance.

A ragpicker sorts through garbage

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20 Mar 2015, 4:55 am

3 min read

SOPPECOM and Water Aid have been working for the last three years on the right to water and sanitation. They have engaged in consultations with people across the nation, and used these discussions to articulate their campaign demands. The campaign has also come up with a wealth of resources on the topic but what does this right to sanitation entail? Mamata Dash explains.

Why do you see a need for this right to sanitation?

1000 children die per day due to diarrhoea. We all know that diarrhoea is preventable, that these deaths were preventable. 20% of our children under 14 live with water and sanitation-related illnesses. 23% of our girls drop out of school when they reach puberty. People with special needs have no option but to resort to open defecation. Six decades after independence, there are still atleast 3 lakh people in the country who manually carry other people's excreta. How can we then claim that our nation believes in equality for all its citizens? Equality, dignity and justice are the three prongs of sanitation. These are missing today.

What will be included as part of the right to sanitation?

Toilets are what first comes to mind when we think of sanitation but sanitation is not just that. It is important that our efforts are not restricted to toilets and the use of toilets.
The Government of India's definition of sanitation is comprehensive. Sanitation includes personal hygiene, home sanitation, safe water, and the safe disposal of excreta, garbage and waste water but when our programmes are made, they focus only on constructing toilets. What has been the impact of this?

In 2013, it was estimated that 3.75 crore toilets were 'missing' - they did not exist anywhere except on paper. With the propaganda-heavy Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan, it is probable that many more will go missing.

The components of sanitation need to be ensured at every time, at every place, and for each person. Menstrual hygiene management is not an issue to only be discussed by women’s groups. The health of our girls and women is something that should concern all society. The right to sanitation must include specificities, of special needs groups and of cultural needs.

Why will a rights-based approach work?

Looking at comprehensive sanitation as a right is important for our dignity, health, education, livelihood and security. The present situation sees schemes being developed at the Centre, followed by a response from the states that these schemes need to be implemented. If there is a good bureaucrat, then the scheme might be implemented well- if there isn't, it won't. If there is a justiciable right, anyone can demand it. Its implementation is not dependent on the bureacrat in position. So the campaign to the right to sanitation also aims to inform the government.

What is the scope of the right to water and sanitation?

It provides a legal framework to hold states accountable, and provides principles to assist states in prioritising where resources should be dedicated.
It entitles everyone to safe water and sanitation services.
It mandates that governments are obligated to ensure that everyone gains access to these services within a specified timeframe.

There are two agencies in the context of rights. The duty bearers need to have accountability, to provide funds and infrastructure, and the right holders need to participate, mobilise and organise. Six aspects of water and sanitation rights are included in the campaign; these are availability, accessibility, affordability, quality and safety, acceptability, dignity, and technology. It is also important to differentiate between the responsibilities of the government and of citizens.

Read the Campaign's position paper on the right to sanitation.

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