SANITATION AS A RIGHT

Dear All

There is a need to consider the Saniation as  a Right as it is real barrier in achieveing the sustainable development. In this direction ELRS is going to conduct a National Seminar, The abstract submitted for this purpose is pasted below as:

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  3As WITH SANITATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN RURAL ENVIRONMENTS

Lakshmi Narayana N

Director, Geo Rehabilitation Centre

grcnln@gmail.com

Geohouse, # 2-3-173, Road No: 2,

Adarsh Nagar, Nagole,

Hyderabad -500068.AP. India.

ABSTRACT

Keywords: Availability, Accessibility, Affordability, Water, Soil, Sustainability, Quality of Life, Community, Empowerment, Inclusion.

Statement of the Problem: The poor availability and accessibility for sanitation leads for health hazards and pollution to water, soil & environment and further for poor development with poor sustainability and quality of life of the people in rural villages in general and women & persons with disabilities in particular and Nation.

Objectives of the Study: The study is with community based initiatives and has specific objectives which include:

o To create awareness on better sanitation facilities,
o To understand the causes and consequences of open defecation,
o To introduce the concept of 3As,
o To explain the need of Access Audit and Universal Design,
o To make Community Based Initiatives (CBIs),
o To plan sanitation as community development as a right and
o To know the role and opportunities for the Community Based Organizations (CBOs).

Background: The open defecation is predominant in rural environments rather than urban areas minus slums. The consequences of this process are complex and causes for health hazards and pollution to water (both surface and subsurface), soil and environment. In addition, it is the issue of dignity and privacy. Among the marginalized groups, women and persons with disabilities are the most vulnerable which some times leads for their exploitation including sexual harassment. The poor access for water is one of the barriers of non-utilizing of lavatories. The efforts of government and other stakeholders through Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) have yet to reach its target of moving towards Free Open Defecation (FOD). Under these circumstances, the present study gains importance to look for Community Based Initiatives (CBIs) with better approaches for 3As.

Methodologies: The methodologies adopted includes: creation of awareness on the need of sanitation facilities, concept of 3As, concept of Access Audit & Universal Design, beginning of Community Based Initiatives, right based strategy as part of community development and role & opportunities for CBOs.

Results and Conclusions: The study has been carried-out covering rural parts of Andhra Pradesh. The outcome is significant in terms of: better awareness, change in attitude, better understanding of 3As, better view of Access Audit & Universal Design, need of adding as part of community development to work with dignity & right and better role & opportunities for CBOs with better participation. This further made the community to move forward with initiation for creating better sanitation facilities with better 3As which leads for FOD. The CBIs are simple, flexible and participative matching to the needs of the people and availability of local resources.

Recommendations: In view of the complexity and vulnerability to health hazards and pollution to water, soil and environment, recommendations includes: training to stakeholders, encourage students for project / research, development of networks and linking of sanitation with other social benefits.

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Looking forward for better sharing and reflections...

All the Best