How we do it
WaterAid India undertook a comprehensive initiative aimed at enhancing Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) conditions in 13 slums across Bengaluru. The project spanned various activities, ranging from baseline surveys to infrastructure development, community engagement, and government collaboration.
1) Baseline Surveys
A meticulous examination of 13 slums in Bangalore provided a detailed understanding of the project area. The surveys focused on population demographics, socio-economic status, and the existing Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in the communities.
2) Participatory Social Maps and GIS Mapping
In ten of the surveyed slums, participatory social mapping was conducted to assess existing resources and WASH infrastructure. Additionally, Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping was employed to chart institutions and WASH facilities in these areas, enhancing the project's data-driven approach. This helped us in mapping out the areas of focus and providing tailor- made solutions to the communities that we planned to engage with.
3) Infrastructure Development
WaterAid India took a hands-on approach by retrofitting and repairing toilets, providing assets to community members in Sumanahalli Cement Colony, Siddarth Nagar, and Chiranjeevi Layout. The initiative made safe sanitation accessible to 2992 people.
Water supply systems were installed in Deshianagar, Shakambari Nagar, Gangodanahalli, Kowdenahalli AWC, and Medi Agrahara AWC, benefitting 3416 people at the household level which enhanced their productivity and gave them opportunities to pay heed to other activities rather than just worry about the lack of the basic infrastructure of water and sanitation.
4) Ensuring Sustainability
To foster community ownership and responsibility for WASH infrastructure, WaterAid India facilitated the formation of operations and maintenance committees in specific localities, including Sumanahalli, Cement Colony, Siddarth Colony, Shakambari Nagar, Gangodanahalli, and Deshianagar. This helped us in the seamless handover of the hardware infrastructure created and ensured its sustainability after our exit.
5) WASH Champions and Awareness Campaigns
A total of 106 individuals from different localities were trained as WASH Champions to serve as thought leaders on water, sanitation, hygiene, and health. Regular personal hygiene and menstrual hygiene management (MHM) sessions were conducted in intervention areas, promoting behavior change within the community. Special initiatives on Global Handwashing Day and World Toilet Day were undertaken to ensure that they act as a reminder to them. A comprehensive Menstrual Hygiene Management study was also conducted across nine intervention areas which paved the way to explore solutions to the existing challenges that women and adolescent girls face.
6) Behavior Change Campaign
WaterAid India implemented a three-phase behavior change campaign across all intervention areas, with a focus on delivering crucial messages regarding water, sanitation, and menstrual hygiene management (MHM), specifically targeting waste pickers' communities. A total of 402 collective members were trained on WASH-related concepts to create awareness.
7) Government Engagement
The project successfully engaged key government departments, including the Karnataka Slum Development Board, BBMP, and BWSSB. Collaborative efforts resulted in securing permissions for infrastructure development and garnering support for addressing community matters through interface meetings.
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