On access to toilets and dignity for NT/DNT communities- Part II

"Being nomadic means facing a very different reality. There is little understanding of this reality among development planners."

-Deepa Pawar writes on the sanitation challenges faced by Nomadic and Denotified Tribe (NT-DNT) communities, emphasising the lack of access to toilets and the consequent impact on dignity and well-being in her two-part series on Behan Box on the occasion of Vimukti Divas (31st of August).

The article, which summarises Anubhuti's research, reveals dire sanitation challenges for NT/DNT communities, with over 80% lacking toilets at home and 70% having none nearby. Women and girls face heightened risks of sexual harassment and violence, particularly at night. Conducted in Thane district, Maharashtra, the study involved community-led research, uncovering caste-based discrimination and inadequate facilities. Findings indicate unsafe, dilapidated toilets, with 34% deemed unsafe at night. Recommendations include constitutional commitment, recognition of landlessness, inclusive planning, and replicating community-led models for vulnerable groups, highlighting the urgent need for systemic change to ensure sanitation rights for nomadic populations.

Read the article here: https://behanbox.com/2022/08/30/over-80-of-nomadic-homes-have-no-toilets-70-none-near-them/