Everyone everywhere: accessible household sanitation for persons with disabilities

The Constitution of India ensures equality, freedom, justice and dignity of all individuals and implicitly mandates an inclusive society for all including Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). However, in spite of the enabling policies at the national and state level, there have been challenges faced by implementers and service providers in providing accessible sanitation because of lack of appropriate technology options which are disabled friendly, adequate information on inclusive toilet designs not reaching the block functionaries, inherent existing challenges in inter-sectoral coordination and lack of skilled organisations for grassroots implementation. As part of the national effort to enable everyone, everywhere to access improved sanitation, the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS), Government of India in collaboration with WaterAid India (WAI) finalised a handbook on accessible sanitation options for PwDs. Through collaboration, MDWS and WAI ensured reaching out to the entire country with these cost effective and locally appropriate sanitation options.