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As a grassroots execution non-profit, Swades’ vision
is to create a model of development that lifts a million
people out of poverty every 6-7 years. The foundation
currently works in 5 major areas of community living,
namely water, sanitation, education, health and
livelihoods. Our experience over the last decade has
made us realise the inter-connectedness of the various
verticals and the cascading impact that an effective
water programme can bring about. Water, followed by
sanitation is hence at the helm of all transformation
efforts at a Swades Village, tying in to UN’s SDG 6 –
Clean water and sanitation. Following are the areas
where one can see the transformative impact especially
for women across various aspects of life because of
“direct to home’ drinking water availability:

Health impact:
Access to clean drinking water liberates women from
the drudgery of walking miles each day for fetching
water from an open source. Back aches, neck pains,
extreme exhaustion – these are common symptoms for
women who carry heavy pots of water multiple times
each day. It is sadly also common for the women to
drink less water, in order to save more for the family,
leading to dehydration, abdominal pains, cramps etc.
Drinking contaminated water on the other hand poses
a whole other set of challenges. According to a study
published by Water Aid, an estimated 37.7 million
Indians are affected by waterborne diseases annually.
1.5 million children are estimated to die of diarrhoea
alone. Lack of a sanitation infrastructure further fuels
the contamination of water.

Swades communities report of fewer health scares and
doctor visits after access to a water tap and household
sanitation.

Safety and Dignity:
Most women and young girls in rural communities walk
long distances to relieve themselves – often before the
break of dawn or late in the night to avoid passers-by. It
is not very uncommon for them to be a victim to snake
and scorpion attacks and in some cases, abduction
and even rape. A toilet in the home premises therefore
goes beyond sanitation services, assuring safety and
restoring dignity.

The opening of some of the toilets in Swades’ Nashik
villages (with garlands, ribbons, cracking of a ceremonial

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