Water and Sanitation: A Gender Perspective

According to The Committee of Social, Economic and Cultural Rights, access to water and adequate sanitation are underlying determinants of health, which in turn, is an inclusive right. In our portfolio of economic development and social progress, provision of proper sanitation and drinking water are quintessential requirements, especially when it pertains to women’s health. Proper water availability and better sanitation are indeed reflections of  women’s dignity and equity. Absence of proper hygiene and sanitation is the chief cause of reproductive tract infections (RTI) in females where the former is primarily associated with the availability of water. Her personal sanitation and hygiene is neglected with huge gender inequalities in the utilization of the services.

The paper has relied primarily on secondary data to analyse the problem in consideration. For qualitative analysis, a few case studies are incorporated in understanding the gravity of the situation and for deriving inference about the problem. The paper examines the functionality of various government programs in Rajasthan related to water availability and sanitation. It tries to find the gap that pertains in this sphere, where there is divergence between approved, released and actual funds. Thus the government is realising the necessary condition of toilet construction and meeting the sufficient condition of proper water availability remains a crucial issue. The paper tries to focus on the problem of water availability which adversely affects sanitation practices that result in various health hazards especially with reference to rural women of Rajasthan.

Effort is made to evolve a sanitation model that adapts well to Rajasthan’s social and geographic conditions. Appropriate design and location of sanitation facilities reduces the risk of violence and gender specific health problems. It is essential to understand the needs of women and girls while designing sanitation programs.(Marcelina Albuquerque). Realizing the goal of adequate sanitation and water availability is a consistent social process that requires time and investment.

According to The Committee of Social, Economic and Cultural Rights, access to water and adequate sanitation are underlying determinants of health, which in turn, is an inclusive right. In our portfolio of economic development and social progress, provision of proper sanitation and drinking water are quintessential requirements, especially when it pertains to women’s health. Proper water availability and better sanitation are indeed reflections of  women’s dignity and equity. Absence of proper hygiene and sanitation is the chief cause of reproductive tract infections (RTI) in females where the former is primarily associated with the availability of water. Her personal sanitation and hygiene is neglected with huge gender inequalities in the utilization of the services.

The paper has relied primarily on secondary data to analyse the problem in consideration. For qualitative analysis, a few case studies are incorporated in understanding the gravity of the situation and for deriving inference about the problem. The paper examines the functionality of various government programs in Rajasthan related to water availability and sanitation. It tries to find the gap that pertains in this sphere, where there is divergence between approved, released and actual funds. Thus the government is realising the necessary condition of toilet construction and meeting the sufficient condition of proper water availability remains a crucial issue. The paper tries to focus on the problem of water availability which adversely affects sanitation practices that result in various health hazards especially with reference to rural women of Rajasthan.

Effort is made to evolve a sanitation model that adapts well to Rajasthan’s social and geographic conditions. Appropriate design and location of sanitation facilities reduces the risk of violence and gender specific health problems. It is essential to understand the needs of women and girls while designing sanitation programs.(Marcelina Albuquerque). Realizing the goal of adequate sanitation and water availability is a consistent social process that requires time and investment.