Project Summary

The benefits of rapid growth and development of cities do not reach all its citizens equitably.  Slum dwellers are invariably left out and do not have access to even basic infrastructure such as water supply and sanitation. Compounding this problem is the existence of slums and its occupants that the city does not recognize.  This project sought to provide WatSan facilities to people in a sustainable manner. This was accomplished by adopting the following strategies:

• Advocacy with government to renovate community toilets and enable them to be managed by Self Help Groups.
• Training Self Help Groups to manage pay and use community toilets.
• Raising awareness on hygiene and safe water and sanitation practices.
• Helping people get individual water connections and sanitation units and  linkage  to credit through GUARDIAN Microfinance.
• Initiating community managed water and sanitation facilities in the newly approved Trichy slums.

The project was supported by Gramalaya’s strong women’s federation (WAVE) and Association for Water and Sanitation, Hygiene (AWASH) committees formed under this project.