In the light of poor sanitary and hygiene conditions in the villages and its effect on the people’s livelihoods: as a drain on resources (in the form of ‘out of the pocket’ medical expenses), loss in work-days due to illnesses, and generally in terms of poor health outcomes (malnutrition, especially among children and women), GDS decided to incorporate Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) components into its programmes portfolio.
The key strategies adopted for achieving WASH outcomes include- upgrading the drinking water facilities (promotion of deep bore water sources, enhancing community capacity for repair, cleaning and maintenance of water sources); sensitizing community (through the CLTS approach) on the ills of open defecation, leading the villages to become ‘open defecation free’ (ODF); building awareness and sensitivity among people (especially women and children)on personal hygiene (specifically focusing on hand-washing and menstrual hygiene), and building community capacities to influence water governance issues in their villages.
Beginning from 2012, GDS has undertaken several WASH focused projects in Maharajganj, Sant Kabir Nagar and Lakhimpur-Kheri Districts of Eastern UP, and Sitamarhi District of North Bihar. The outstanding outcome of GDS’s endeavours in this area has been 69 villages becoming ODF, in Maharajganj and Sant Kabir Nagar Districts; arguably, this is the first time that this phenomenon has occurred in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Further, the drinking water systems have been, so far, upgraded in 72 villages in these two districts and a cadre of women ‘hand-pump mechanics has been promoted in the Maharajganj District. Besides, sanitation systems have been upgraded in over 100 schools from Sant Kabir Nagar and Sitamarhi Districts.