The project will build community based behaviour change communication system to generate the awareness at community level on toilet use, hand wash at critical timings and menstrual hygiene management in 20 villages of Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh in India.Project will build skills of community volunteers, adolescent girls groups and women groups on behaviour change messages, communication tools and participatory methods for mobilizing the community, tracking behaviour changes.
It is alarming to note that one in 10 deaths in India is due to poor sanitation, according to the World Bank.Women and girls suffer more in absence of sanitation facilities.66% of the girls in India manage their period outside or in an open field due to absence of a household toilet.48.4% households have access to improved sanitation facility in India.Mere construction of the toilets is not enough. Community members avoid using the toilet due to their age-old practice of defecating in open.
Project will generate demand for household toilets and build l and hygiene behaviours such as use of sanguinary pads for safe menstrual hygiene management and hand wash with soap at critical timings like before eating, after defecation, after disposal of child faecal. Project will develop community resources including Community volunteers, adolescent girls groups,self help groups, monitoring committees for behavior change communication, mobilisation and tracking changes at household level.
Long term impact of the project will be protection of children, girls, women and wider community from the risks and diseases caused by open defecation. This impact is linked with national goals and commitments like Clean India Mission.
