Navigating Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Challenges in Urban Slums
Inadequate access to clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene education remains a persistent challenge in many urban slum communities across India. In the city of Hyderabad, home to over 650,000 slum dwellers, families often lack the resources and infrastructure to meet their basic water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) needs. Crumbling pipelines, unreliable supply, and a lack of functional toilets force residents to rely on contaminated sources or practice open defecation, exposing them to waterborne illnesses and environmental health risks.
Beyond the immediate WASH concerns, the livelihood precarity experienced by slum communities further compounds their vulnerability. Many residents work in the informal sector, earning unstable incomes that make it difficult to afford WASH services or invest in home improvements. Women and children bear the brunt of these challenges, spending hours each day collecting water and caring for family members who fall ill. Without access to decent work, education, and social protection, these marginalized groups struggle to break out of the cycle of poverty.
To address these interlinked barriers, a growing number of civil society organizations in Hyderabad are pioneering an integrated approach that links WASH interventions with livelihood development. By simultaneously improving water access, sanitation infrastructure, and hygiene practices while also creating economic opportunities, these initiatives are empowering slum communities to enhance their overall resilience.
Bridging the WASH Gap Through Community-Driven Solutions
In the bustling Banjara Hills slum of Hyderabad, the non-profit organization Basix has been working alongside residents to co-create sustainable WASH systems. Through a participatory process, the community identified their most pressing needs and collaboratively designed appropriate technological solutions.
“We didn’t want to simply install taps and toilets,” explains Basix program manager Anita Kumari. “Our goal was to build the community’s capacity to manage these services long-term.”
To that end, Basix facilitated the formation of neighborhood WASH committees, training members in operations, maintenance, and fee collection. These community-based institutions now oversee the management of shared water points and public toilet complexes, ensuring reliable access and keeping facilities clean. Notably, women make up the majority of the WASH committee leadership, amplifying their voices in local decision-making.
Recognizing that inadequate WASH stems from broader socioeconomic challenges, Basix has also integrated livelihood support into its program model. Through partnerships with vocational training providers, the organization equips residents with market-relevant skills in areas like tailoring, plumbing, and electrical work. Graduates are then connected to job placements or assisted in starting their own small enterprises.
“Having a steady income allows families to afford WASH services and invest in home improvements,” says Kumari. “It also empowers them to advocate for better infrastructure and hold service providers accountable.”
Cultivating an Ecosystem of WASH and Livelihood Support
Just a few kilometers away, the non-profit Mahita is spearheading a similar integrated approach in the Ambedkar Nagar slum. Like Basix, Mahita has facilitated the establishment of community WASH committees, which now manage a network of public taps, water kiosks, and toilet complexes.
Notably, Mahita has also helped these committees leverage government programs and development schemes to further improve WASH access. By supporting the communities in navigating bureaucratic processes and accessing relevant entitlements, the organization has enabled the expansion of piped water supply, subsidized sanitation hardware, and hygiene education initiatives.
“Our role is to empower slum residents to be active citizens and claim their rights,” says Mahita program lead Sanjay Patil. “When they are equipped with knowledge and skills, they can more effectively advocate for better WASH services from the local authorities.”
Alongside these WASH interventions, Mahita has established village-level savings and credit cooperatives. Through these community-owned financial institutions, residents can access affordable loans to start small businesses or make home improvements. The cooperatives also serve as platforms for livelihood training, linking members to vocational courses and entrepreneurship support.
“By building an ecosystem of WASH and livelihood services, we’re creating a virtuous cycle of increased incomes, better living conditions, and improved health outcomes,” explains Patil.
Cultivating Women’s Leadership and Collective Action
Central to the success of both Basix and Mahita’s integrated approaches is their emphasis on amplifying women’s voices and fostering collective action. In the male-dominated context of urban slums, these organizations have deliberately prioritized women’s participation and leadership in WASH committees and livelihood initiatives.
“Women are the primary managers of household water, sanitation, and hygiene,” says Basix’s Anita Kumari. “Empowering them to lead the community’s WASH efforts has been transformative.”
The WASH committees, for instance, have enabled women to collectively negotiate with local authorities, secure infrastructure upgrades, and enforce equitable service delivery. Meanwhile, the savings and credit cooperatives have provided a platform for women to pool resources, access capital, and launch their own micro-enterprises.
“When women have a seat at the table, they bring a unique perspective and ensure that community needs are truly addressed,” notes Mahita’s Sanjay Patil. “Their leadership has been crucial in bridging the gap between WASH and livelihoods.”
Building Resilient and Self-Reliant Communities
Through the integrated, community-driven approaches pioneered by organizations like Basix and Mahita, Hyderabad’s slum residents are beginning to experience tangible improvements in their water access, sanitation facilities, and hygiene practices. Crucially, these WASH gains are accompanied by growing economic opportunities, as residents leverage new skills and financial services to establish stable livelihoods.
This dual focus on WASH and livelihoods has empowered slum communities to enhance their overall resilience. With reliable access to clean water and functioning sanitation, residents can better withstand shocks and stresses, whether environmental, health-related, or economic in nature. Meanwhile, the livelihood support and collective action platforms have equipped them with the resources and agency to advocate for their rights, engage with local authorities, and shape the development of their neighborhoods.
“When WASH and livelihood interventions are strategically combined, they create a multiplier effect,” says Anita Kumari. “Families gain the means and the motivation to invest in their homes, their health, and their future.”
As Hyderabad and other Indian cities continue to grapple with the complex challenges of urban slums, the integrated approach exemplified by Basix and Mahita offers a promising pathway towards more resilient, self-reliant communities. By bridging the divide between WASH and livelihood support, these initiatives are demonstrating how marginalized populations can overcome intersecting barriers and forge a more sustainable, equitable future.
Conclusion
The experiences of Hyderabad’s slum communities highlight the importance of adopting a holistic, integrated approach to water, sanitation, and hygiene challenges. By simultaneously improving WASH access and cultivating livelihood opportunities, civil society organizations are empowering marginalized residents to enhance their overall resilience and self-reliance.
Through the formation of community-led WASH committees, the leveraging of government schemes, and the establishment of village-level savings and credit cooperatives, these initiatives are bridging the gap between basic service provision and economic development. Crucially, they have placed women at the forefront of these efforts, recognizing their central role in household WASH management and their potential as agents of change.
As Hyderabad and other Indian cities continue to grapple with the complex challenges of urban slums, the lessons from Basix and Mahita’s integrated approach offer valuable insights. By fostering synergies between WASH and livelihood interventions, development practitioners can catalyze a virtuous cycle of improved living conditions, increased incomes, and stronger community resilience. Ultimately, this integrated model holds the promise of enabling slum residents to break free from the cycle of poverty and shape a more equitable, sustainable future for their neighborhoods.
