India
Capital:
New Delhi
Population:
1.4 billion
Area:
3,287,263
km2

More than a billion people call India home. This vast population is spread across deserts and deltas, green valleys and rocky mountains, remote villages and mega-cities. Reaching everyone with clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene is a huge challenge.

That hasn’t stopped us making real progress. We have reached millions of people with these three essentials, enabling communities to unlock their potential to break free from the cycle of poverty and change their lives for good.

But while many thrive in the world’s second fastest-growing economy, millions are being left behind.

Almost one in three people have no decent toilet, instead having no choice but to go in rivers and fields, beside train tracks or down alleyways. And every year, almost 44,000 children children under the age of five die because of diarrhoea caused by dirty water, and poor sanitation and hygiene. It is particularly tough to get decent toilets and clean water to people living in India’s rapidly expanding informal settlements.

people don't have clean water close to home.

That's almost 7% of the population.

people don't have a decent toilet of their own.

That's more than one in five.

children under the age of five die each year from diarrhoea

caused by dirty water, and poor toilets and hygiene.

Together, we can make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene a normal part of daily life for everyone in India.

What does WaterAid do in India?

We give people the knowledge and confidence to demand their rights. We support the Government to integrate water, toilets and hygiene into health, nutrition and disaster strategies, building systems that last.

And we make sure services meet the specific needs of women, children and disabled people so that no one is left behind.

Visit WaterAid India's website

A tale of clean cities

Uncontrolled urbanisation and proliferation of slums makes development of urban sanitation a big challenge. This study looks at progress on sanitation made in three cities, including Visakhapatnam in India.

Read the research
Image: WaterAid/ Adam Ferguson

A sanitation superhero

Image: Eliza Powell
There are many changes. The biggest change is that the girls, our daughters, don’t have to go far away. When they used to go far away, people in their cars would stop and stare, and sometimes call or approach them.
Chanda, community toilet caretaker

Chanda is a caretaker for her community’s toilet block in Delhi. It’s her job to make sure the toilets are clean and working, and to help her neighbours use them properly.

People in Chanda’s district used to have no decent toilets, forcing them to go outside, sometimes far from home. This put the community at risk of disease, and women and girls at risk of harassment.

“There are many changes,” Chanda told us. “The biggest change is that the girls, our daughters, don’t have to go far away. When they used to go far away, people in their cars would stop and stare, and sometimes call or approach them.”

Chanda is also part of a community group that gets together and talks to neighbours about safe sanitation and good hygiene.

She takes immense pride in her work: “I look after the public now. I like it a lot and I will continue to do this until I have my last breath.”

Ready to make a difference? Donate to WaterAid and help change someone's life.

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