A resident of Jaipur, Rajasthan, Phoolwati is a vocal champion for sanitation rights.

Phoolwati lives in a densely populated neighborhood, where the average household unit comprises 10 to 15 members – with only one toilet shared among all members. Some of the households lack even one toilet. Due to the elevation at which her basti (informal, densely populated settlement) is situated and the lack of space, people are unable to construct toilets for their households, despite great need.

In the absence of Individual Household Toilets (IHHTs), the need for the construction of a Community Toilet in the neighborhood was felt. During the COVID-19 lockdown, this need was recognized with greater urgency. Due to high restrictions on mobility, people could not venture far from their homes to access toilets in other areas, they were turned away by the police. Phoolwati was moved by the immense distress this caused her community, who were left with no dignified means to fulfill their sanitation needs.

She conferred with the members of the Single Window Forum and it was decided that the first order of business was setting up a toilet for people of the community who had to resort to open defecation and also for passers-by through the neighborhood. Single Window Forum is a community-facilitated platform, set up by the Centre for Advocacy and Research, that brings together service providers of the municipal corporation and end-users who reside in informal settlements to enable delivery of timely and affordable sanitation services.

As someone who was a firm believer that toilets must foster safety and inclusivity for everyone, especially those who are vulnerable in society such as pregnant women, senior citizens, people with disabilities and adolescent girls, she ensured that the toilet infrastructure is sensitive to the differential needs of different citizen groups. The toilet has helped prevent open defecation in her neighborhood, resulting in dignified access to sanitation as well as more healthy and hygienic environments.

Click here to read on more about Single Window Forum and community management centers instituted by the Centre for Advocacy and Research (a member of the NFSSM Alliance) are advocating for and institutionalizing inclusive sanitation: https://cfar.org.in/category/uncategorized/

Kusumlata, a shining example from Choti Bhil Basti, Jodhpur, defied the odds in her community, where women's education was often neglected in favor of traditional household roles. Supported by her parents, she persevered, achieving a post-graduation degree, a rarity among young women in her neighborhood.

Since her early years, Kusumlata's heart beat for community service. Together with her husband, who shared her passion for social work, they reached out to those in need. Through the transformational journey revealing the formidable challenges confronting her community, Kusumlata recognized that, with the right guidance and approach, they could overcome these hurdles. Hence, when the chance came, Kusumlata eagerly joined the Moving India Towards Sanitation for All (MISAAL) Settlement Committee.

MISAAL, an initiative under the Urban Management Centre (UMC), operates in 4 Indian cities, including Sambalpur in Odisha. The program concentrates on mapping, measuring, and monitoring sanitation service delivery and infrastructure to attain and sustain Open Defecation Free (ODF) status. Kusumlata engaged wholeheartedly in the committee's training, awareness campaigns, and orientation sessions. Her educational background and unwavering commitment propelled her to represent her MISAAL Settlement Committee (MSC).

"It is because of everything I learned through the MISAAL Settlement Committee that I have been able to make an impression on the residents, and they have elected me to represent them," Kusumlata affirmed.

As she advocated for her community before the authorities, Kusumlata recognized the potential to drive meaningful change not just in sanitation, but beyond. The forthcoming Municipal elections offered her a chance to seize that opportunity. Encouraged by her husband, she stood for the Ward Councilor elections, earning a unanimous mandate.

Throughout the pandemic, Kusumlata became a beacon of hope, ensuring that services for urban poor settlements in her constituency did not go unnoticed. In her new role, she collaborated with other MSCs in her ward, addressing their concerns and conducting vital awareness sessions, including menstrual hygiene for adolescent girls. Kusumlata's leadership also galvanized the Urban Local Body (ULB) in conducting vaccination drives and spreading awareness about COVID-19 vaccinations. Her journey reflects the extraordinary impact that one individual's unwavering commitment can have on a community's well-being.