Political

Traditional rainwater harvesting systems to the rescue!
Rainwater harvesting, a “soft path” approach towards water management, cannot be advocated in isolation to tackle water scarcity. Posted on 19 Nov, 2014 10:26 AM

A drop in available water for irrigation is one of the important challenges that countries will face in the coming years. This could create a severe impact on agriculture and food production. This threat is far more serious in countries such as India due to the rapid growth in population as well as overexploitation of available water resources.

Eris/Tanks of Tamil Nadu
Environmental clearance to Cuddalore thermal plant quashed
Policy matters this week Posted on 18 Nov, 2014 01:41 PM

NGT turns down clearance to Cuddalore thermal plant because of threat to mangroves

A thermal power plant in Korba
Gujarat's data on toilets and drinking water facilities in schools unreliable: CAG
News this week Posted on 17 Nov, 2014 09:51 PM

Gujarat's data on toilets and drinking water facilities in schools need investigation: CAG

Girls toilet in a school
Thank your toilets on World Toilet Day!
The theme of World Toilet Day this year is 'Equality, dignity and the link between gender-based violence and sanitation', all things that should hit us hard in India. Posted on 17 Nov, 2014 12:44 PM

Have you ever complained about a toilet anywhere? Not so clean, not so dry, not so nice-smelling, not so something else? On November 19th 2014 and possibly every other day this year and forever after, thank your stars that you have one because 2.5 billion people in the world don't!

World Toilet Day, 19 Nov 2014
Call for papers/contributions for the 'India WASH Summit', WaterAid India
The event will bring together hundreds of thought leaders and practitioners to discuss how to eliminate open defecation and ensure water for all in urban and rural India.
Posted on 16 Nov, 2014 07:12 PM

Background and Summit Agenda: 

India WASH Summit
Picturing CLTS- Photo Competition by Community-led Total Sanitation Knowledge Hub
Anyone who has some involvement with, experience of, or interest in community-led total sanitation can send images for the competition.
Posted on 16 Nov, 2014 05:10 PM

Know more about Picturing CLTS- Photo Competition

Get more information on Community-led Total Sanitation Knowledge Hub 

White, Green and now a ‘Blue Revolution’!
Policy matters this week Posted on 10 Nov, 2014 10:35 PM

India plans to launch the 'Blue Revolution' to boost fish production

Traditional fisheries in India
Kerala's Ashtamudi lake certified by Marine Stewardship Council
News this week Posted on 10 Nov, 2014 10:09 PM

Kerala's Ashtamudi lake recognised for sustainable clam fishing

Mussel farm in Ashtamudi lake (Source: Fotokannan)
Toilets and social networks: Is there a connection?
Studies have shown links between social dynamics and behaviour change, especially with regard to toilet use. Intervention efforts should focus on communities, and not individuals. Posted on 06 Nov, 2014 10:54 PM

Of late, there have been plenty of discussions around the topic of sanitation, which have focussed on building toilets on a massive scale. These are in the aftermath of the new and recently released Millennium Development Goals Report 2014 by the United Nations that shows that India has the world's largest population that defecates out in the open, with it being as high as 66% in rural India [1

Toilet use (Source: Sourabh Phadke)
It's not just about rape!
Women need toilets, not only to protect themselves from rape but to also preserve their dignity and health. Sanitation is a fundamental human right and not just temporary media hype. Posted on 05 Nov, 2014 11:17 AM

Nandatai and her 16 year old daughter Phula creep out of their houses quietly in the wee hours of the morning into the dark fields to relieve themselves before everyone wakes up. It is an everyday story as this is the only time in the day that they have privacy. “It is so shameful to go out in the fields during the day”, says Nandatai. “We have to hold our urine till it gets dark.

Women in rural areas (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
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