A Framework for Improving Sanitation in Urban Poor Communities

Although sanitation has gradually achieved prominence on the urban development policy agenda, culminating in the ambitious Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) or Clean India Mission, the country still lags behind in ensuring effective and equitable service provision. A comprehensive framework for action to improve sanitation in urban settlements includes three distinct but interconnected elements: physical infrastructure, sanitation behaviour and community capacity. An integrated strategy to ensure total sanitation implies not only toilet construction but also access to adequate city-level infrastructure, such as safe water supply and wastewater treatment systems. This document reviews current sanitation and hygiene programmes in India with case studies of effective initiatives.