Blog: Toward Achieving Access to Clean water and ensuring quality sanitation (SDG6): Innovations of Sulabh International

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Progress Report

Introduction

This report provides an overview of the progress made towards achieving SDG 6, which aims to ‘ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all’. While there has been some progress in delivering these essential services, there is a need for accelerated action. Billions of people still lack access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene, and water scarcity is becoming a growing global concern due to climate change and conflict. Contamination continues to impact water quality in certain areas.

Commonwealth Scenario

Member countries in the Sub-Saharan African and South Asian region face significant water and sanitation challenges within the Commonwealth. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the number of people without safely managed drinking water has increased from 703 to 766 million since 2015. Additionally, one out of three people in this region lacks access to a handwashing facility. Open defecation is prevalent, with over 494 million individuals worldwide practicing it, particularly in India where 91 million people lack access to safe water and 746 million people lack access to safely managed household sanitation facilities. Open defecation contributes to diarrheal diseases, which remain the leading cause of infant mortality in Africa.

Water stress is a major concern in countries like India, Pakistan, and Singapore due to high water withdrawals, limited freshwater resources, and insufficient land for storage. Singapore has successfully implemented sustainable water usage practices, including the utilization of treated effluent and desalinated water, investment in infrastructure, and water conservation awareness campaigns.

It is important to note that low water stress does not necessarily indicate a country’s ability to manage its water resources effectively. In Uganda, for example, water stress is low at 5.8%, but only 17% of the population has access to safely managed potable water.

SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework

The United Nations launched the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework in 2020 to address the slowing progress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The framework aims to deliver fast results at an increased scale through five accelerators: optimized financing, improved data and information, capacity development, innovation, and governance.

Sulabh International Social Service Organisation: A Case Study

Sulabh International has been at the forefront of sanitation reform, aligning with the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework by contributing to innovation, optimized financing, and capacity development. Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak founded Sulabh with a vision inspired by Gandhi’s commitment to inclusiveness and cleanliness for all, especially India’s lower castes. Sulabh combines sociology and innovation to address India’s sanitation problem through design, financing, public will, municipal resources, and nature-based technology such as the pour-flush Sulabh Shauchalaya compost latrine.

Sulabh has improved urban sanitation facilities in India by introducing pay-to-use public lavatories. Over 9000 public lavatories have been built, including in popular tourist destinations. These facilities are strategically located in public areas like train/bus stations, parks, and markets, ensuring access to proper sanitation and enhancing the image of the tourism industry. The installation of pissoirs in public places has also helped address the issue of public urination.

In addition to public toilets, Sulabh has installed 190 biogas facilities that convert human waste into bio fertilizers and biogas. Biogas serves as a renewable energy source for cooking, lighting, and electricity generation, while the bio-fertilizer enhances agriculture and supports low-income populations. Sulabh’s collaboration with 1001 Fontaines has also led to the production of potable water from surface water in arsenic-affected areas of West Bengal, providing safe water to India’s poorest communities.

Sulabh’s innovations have improved the health and well-being of communities in India, aligning with SDG 6 targets of universal access to water, sanitation, and hygiene, capacity building in water and sanitation programs, and community participation. The organization also contributes to SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy) and SDG 10 (reduced inequalities) by restoring the dignity of marginalized communities and promoting renewable energy utilization.

Lessons and Best Practices

Sulabh International’s initiatives provide valuable lessons and best practices that can be shared across Commonwealth countries. Collaboration opportunities exist to identify and implement simple materials and nature-based solutions to reduce open defecation and improve sanitation for the urban and rural poor. Low- and middle-income countries can benefit from Sulabh’s sanitation innovations, as well as their efforts to change societal attitudes towards open defecation and stimulate investment in affordable sanitation technologies.

Furthermore, global water and sanitation programs like toilet twinning offer mechanisms to promote collaboration and fund the construction of toilets in poorer countries, creating advocates for sanitation change within communities.

There is an urgent need to expand such initiatives to accelerate progress towards achieving SDG 6.

References

1. Cameroon, L., 2013. Impact evaluation of a large-scale rural sanitation project in Indonesia.
2. Coffey, D., 2014. Revealed Preference for Open Defecation.
3. Liu, L., 2012. Global, regional, and national causes of child mortality: an updated systematic analysis for 2010 with time trends since 2000.
4. Myers, R. C. a. J., 2016. Frontiers of CLTS: Innovations and Insights. 07 January.
5. NITI Aayog, 2018. Composite water management index.
6. Pais, R., 2022. Action Sociology Contributions of Dr Bindeshwar Pathak.
7. Rathi, S., 2022. Importance of Gandhian thoughts about Cleanliness.
8. Rout, S. & Kattumuri, R., 2022. Urban Water Supply and Governance in India.
9. Sulabh International, 2022. Sulabh Technologies – Bio Gas.
10. Sulabh International, 2022. Sulabh Water Project.
11. Sulabh, 2022. About Sulabh International Social Service Organisation.
12. Talbot, M.,

    SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

    1. SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article

    • SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
    • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
    • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

    2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified Based on the Article’s Content

    • SDG 6 Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
    • SDG 6 Target 6.2: By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.
    • SDG 7 Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
    • SDG 10 Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.

    3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article That Can Be Used to Measure Progress Towards the Identified Targets

    • Indicator for SDG 6 Target 6.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services.
    • Indicator for SDG 6 Target 6.2: Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, including a handwashing facility with soap and water.
    • Indicator for SDG 7 Target 7.2: Share of renewable energy in the total final energy consumption.
    • Indicator for SDG 10 Target 10.2: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, disaggregated by age, sex, and disability.

    SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

    SDGs	Targets	Indicators
    SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation	Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.	Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services.
    SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation	Target 6.2: By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.	Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, including a handwashing facility with soap and water.
    	Target 6.2: By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.	Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, including a handwashing facility with soap and water.
    SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy	Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.	Share of renewable energy in the total final energy consumption.
    SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities	Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.	Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, disaggregated by age, sex, and disability.

    Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

    Source: thecommonwealth.org

     

    

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