Wash

Sustainable Solutions to Improve Quality of Life

The WASH model promotes sustained access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. In India, six percent of the population lacks improved sanitation, and 15 percent still defecate in the open. https://water.org/our-impact/where-we-work/india/

In Lucknow, PSI India and Lucknow Nagar Nigam are implementing the Swachh Uday project across 26 wards to improve water access, strengthen sewer and fecal sludge management, and promote household waste segregation aligned with the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) norms of the Government of India.

Under the After the Flush (ATF) project in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, PSI India established 24 sewage treatment or pumping stations to safely dispose of fecal sludge. The project supported the Lucknow Nagar Nigam, Kanpur Nagar Nigam and Pithampur Municipal Council, in reviving the Faecal Sludge Management Helpline cum Call Centre (14420), which has emerged as a widely used customer helpline for sanitation and water-related issues. As a result, a more than 3,711% increase in safe faecal sludge disposal was reported across Lucknow, Kanpur, and Pithampur.

PSI India piloted the Supporting Sustainable Sanitation Improvements (3SI) project in Bihar to assess household toilet demand. In phase two of 3SI PSI India strengthened linkages between sanitation enterprises and value chain players to boost demand and toilet sales. Around 137,970 households were mobilized to purchase toilets from 234 partner enterprises, supported by 21,000 MFI-sanctioned sanitation loans.

In Andhra Pradesh, Savera project helped reach 0.31 million households across 1,372 villages in Chittoor district, increasing consistent toilet use from 22% to 50%.

Through Swachh Uday, around 39,710 individuals were reached through WASH Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) activities.

Building a Sustainable WASH Environment

The Swachh Uday project focuses on infrastructure upgrades, sanitation worker capacity building, and community-led behaviour change communication (BCC). By strengthening system linkages and improving access to essential services, the project not only enhances WASH delivery but also fosters resilient communities committed to long-term adoption.

The strategy prioritizes clean water access through restored and newly installed community stand posts, regular pipeline maintenance, and expanded sanitation services including, door-to-door waste collection, clearing garbage hotspots, and resolving sewer blockages.

Sanitation workers are empowered through safety training, health camps, and social protection linkages, while structured BCC campaigns promote safe hygiene practices. Around 115 sanitation workers trained on occupational safety measures. Strong government partnerships and resource mobilization further anchor the program’s scale and sustainability.

All Hands On Deck: Forging Collaborations & Partnerships for Effective Outcomes

Across its WASH initiatives, PSI India works to strengthen and expand strategic partnerships with government departments, urban local bodies, communities, and international agencies. These collaborations enable cross-sectoral programming, drive policy reform, promote convergence, and scale proven best practices while building lasting institutional capacity.

Swachh Uday project implemented in partnership with the Lucknow Municipal Corporation, addresses critical urban WASH gaps across 26 wards. The program improves access to safe drinking water, expands sewer and faecal sludge management networks, and promotes household-level segregation of dry and wet waste, aligning with Swachh Bharat Mission standards. Door-to-door waste collection services were initiated in 13 slums, benefiting 1,800 households.

Under the After The Flush project, PSI India partnered closely with Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Lucknow, Kanpur, and Pithampur to support the registration of desludging vehicles, ensuring their legal and safe operation. Private Tank Operator (PTO) associations were established to streamline coordination with ULBs, with formal MoUs defining clear roles and responsibilities. To enhance professionalism and public trust, PTO vehicles were branded in line with Swachh Bharat Mission guidelines. PSI India also developed and transferred Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ULBs, ensuring the faecal sludge management model’s long-term sustainability and replicability across other ULBs nationwide.

A Clean Sweep: Addressing Cultural Attitudes & Behaviour Towards Sanitation

Achieving lasting sanitation outcomes requires more than infrastructure, and this demands a shift in cultural attitudes and everyday behaviours.

Under Swachh Uday, PSI India is driving this transformation by promoting household-level segregation of dry and wet waste, upgrading WASH infrastructure for marginalized communities, and fostering improved sanitation practices among slum dwellers. Community groups were strengthened to effectively demand WASH services from the Lucknow Municipal Corporation, ensuring that change is both community-driven and sustained. Through active promotion of the Lucknow One app, Lucknow Nagar Nigam supported by PSI India resolved 2,200 complaints related to water quality, repair and maintenance, and solid and liquid waste management.

Insights from the first phase of the Savera project revealed that 49% of people desired toilets for safety, particularly for women and children, 45% for convenience during the rainy season, odd hours, or illness, and 24% for privacy. These findings were incorporated into the subsequent phase of Savera and other PSI India WASH initiatives. As a result, household outreach that empowers women to recognize the need for toilets became a cornerstone of successful social marketing efforts and shaping behaviour change toward improved sanitation.