Our WASH intervention in Jehanabad and Patna: We have put our effort in these two districts through our soft intervention. Our team worked with several slum cluster of Patna Municipal Boundary and conducted awareness campaign among families pertaining to safe drinking water and sanitation in the area. Efforts were made to sensitize district administration on concerned issues of WASH and mobilized public campaign particularly to change behavior of people for prevention from diseases in Jehanbad town. Organization worked with twin strategy under which process of advocacy from block to the district level was sustained and behavior change communication was done among general public.
Power Grid Corporation assisted School Sanitation Promotion Program: We for complimentary support to SBM-G, performed diverse activities. 10 school toilets were constructed in Atri Block of Gaya district. The modest resource support was provided by power grid CSR fund & Government assistance. Apart from this, behavior change and hygiene promotion activities were also conducted in targeted schools.
Water and sanitation programme assisted by Water Aid India: Bihar has witnessed high growth in terms of public infrastructure creation. Unfortunately this had not been displayed in all sectors. Water and Sanitation Sector is still neglected. GSSG
from last One and half decades is rasing voice and helping target community to overcome the WASH challenge. Advocacy and Service delivery are two areas in which we made our Endeavour in past. We
Network and Partnership for sustainable WATSAN: Our resolve is to promote network and partnership in solving WASH related issue. Our network related experience range from successful run of VISWASH Bihar and FANSA Bihar for years. Recently we are working with UNICEF to organize Bihar WASH alliance-a platform of Multilateral/Bi lateral donors, International & Local NGO active in Bihar.
GSF Supported WASH Project in Bihar: GSSG as convener of VISWASH Bihar facilitated VISWASH network to execute GSF WASH programme in Bihar. Some critical component under the programme was to engage member organization in research Sanitation related issues of rural Bihar, advocacy of CLTS, mobilize community participation, stream line community response etc.As partner organization of VISWASH, GSSG implemented CLTS related activities in Jehnabad district of Bihar.
GSSG as convener of VISWASH Bihar and FANSA Bihar chapter: GSSG remained founder member of VISWASH; a state level network of NGOs
working on WASH issues .GSSG is leading this form and accelerating WASH activities in the state through its members. GSSG is also coordinating agency of FANSA- Bihar (An international network of civil society organization in WASH sector). In last one decade this forum worked in entire state in effective manner under which software and hardware activities were done almost in all districts.
UNICEF led Bihar WASH Alliance: Recently we are working with UNICEF to organize Bihar WASH alliance-
a platform of Multilateral/Bi lateral donors, International & Local NGO active in Bihar. The objective envisaged of this network is to become pressure group, exchange learning of best practices and share resource for better the situation of WASH in the state.
Networking & Advocacy: Linkages, Networking and advocacy has become very useful tool of change in modern day. GSSG emphasized strengthening of linkages & Networking. It has become member & partner of many national and international networks as pressure groups on different issue. We participated in activities of national and international networks like ATSEC, FANSA, BBA, Women Power Connect BVHA, VISWASH etc. ATSEC is working for responding human trafficking issue.
Bachpan Bachao Andolan is lobbying for halting Child labour practices & Child protection. FANSA is lobbying for Potable water to all citizens. Women power connects, New Delhi working on women rights. Bihar Voluntary Health Association working on health issue. Apart from this our organization is founder member of VISWASH Bihar, working on Water Sanitation & Hygiene issue. At present organization is hosting VISWASH- Bihar & FANSA Bihar Convening the network affairs. VISWASH is trying to put constant pressure and doing advocacy at the policy level to make the people’s friendly State Water & Sanitation Policy and proper execution of the policy. At present Viswash is supported by Global sanitation fund as state sanitation network.
Roundtable conference: GSSG supported VISWASH organized a state level round table conference on “call to action on sanitation”. Many legislatures, media houses, development partners, representative of NGO’s & INGO’S and government officials were participated in conference. The conference was targeted to mobilize consensus on immediate action to resolve sanitation crisis facing Bihar state. Some eminent participants i.e. Mr. Krishnanadan Verma (honorable minister Dept of PHED
-Govt. of Bihar), Mr.Yameen Majumdar: HoD Unicef Bihar, JDU spokesperson Dr.Ajay Alok, Ex MLA Manjit singh, representatives of International and national Development agencies & NGO etc.
Few suggestions and recommendation were cited, emphasizing need of collaboration approach and outcome based strategy so that laggard state like Bihar can be forefront of national sanitation facility Map. The suggestions were also focusing that political party’s commitment towards urgency of ODF is needed but social behavior change/mindset of the community regarding the uses of toilet has to be in practice and given high priority.
Regional consultation: Regional consultation was organized at Jehanabad and Madhubani on “Roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders in successful implementation of SBMG”. The objective of this workshop was to discuss accountability issues pertaining to implementation of SBMG and have clarity on SBMG Guideline. So that they can move ahead according to their roles and responsibilities stated in the guideline .In jehanabad the workshop was inaugurated by honorable union minister (state drinking water and sanitation Govt. of India) Mr. Ram kripal Yadav and in Madhubani the workshop was inaugurated by Honorable chairperson (state commission for protection of child rights Govt. of Bihar) Ms Misa Jha. In both the consultation many legislatures, member of panchayati Raj institution, Representative of different stakeholders i.e. INGOs ,NGOs media partners etc engage in promotion of WASH participated actively in this workshop.
Institution Building Activities in Health & Welfare domain – Our organization had has been organizing Institution building activities in Health Care, WASH promotion and social issues. Among
Research & studies: GSSG contributed different studies on WASH issue in association of VISWASH. Some of key studies in which GSSG supported Viswash are as follows:
Study on Gender Violence: We conducted this study to understand relationship of gender violence and lack of sanitation facility. We also tried to understand difficulty to women related to personal hygiene. The study was based on publicly available information created on increased violence on women due to lack of sanitation. The study attempted to understand Women’s Stresses and Struggles for Violence Free Sanitation. The findings presented a scenario which is well observed in a patriarchal society – i.e. Sanitation is a gendered issue. Social or cultural norms prevent girls and women from using the same sanitation facilities as male close relatives/family members(As for instance the father-in-law, or elderly male members prohibit use of household facilities on the day’s women and girls menstruate). Menstruating women and girls are stigmatized in Bihar.They are perceived as dirty, impure and polluting. Due to the low priority of menstrual hygiene from policy-making to decision on household budgets, many girls and women face very practical difficulties in managing their menstruation.
An assessment of commitment exhibited by various political establishments towards realization of universal Sanitation services in Bihar: Using Political Context Analysis as a tool to map the nuances of the political organization before marching on to the next phase of advocacy to various political parties would be an appropriate strategy. We through this study attempted to understand political context of sanitation in terms of indicators political party use to show their commitment towards sanitation. We analyze their tools to communicate people about their commitment. Our conclusion from this study was as follows:
To conclude with, the environmental sanitation still remains an ignored issue in political establishment. In rural areas, local government institutions in charge of operating and maintaining the infrastructure are seen as weak and lack the financial resources to carry out their functions. The situation of environmental sanitation is changing with a very slow pace. It requires concentrated and sustained efforts to raise the level of environmental sanitation in the country and especially rural areas, so as India will able to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of “Environmental Sustainability” in nearfuture.
A situation assessment of Water Supply, Sanitation & Hygiene Status of Patna,
Khagaria and Madhepura District, Bihar
GSSG conducted WASH situation assessment study for World vision India. The study was carried out in 3 different districts of Bihar (Patna, Khagaria and Madhepura) to understand WASH situation, its impact on community & Community based WASH Governance practices. Study was conducted in 40 villages and dominant method of the study was Conducting of Individual Interview based on semi structured questionnaire, group discussions, Contextual Observation and informal discourse with Women. The survey and FGDs reveal the Water supply and sanitation challenges which adversely affect Health & hygiene of residents specially women and children.
It was revealed from the study that WASH1 Infrastructure is grossly inadequate. Community level governance is poor. O&M is negligible. Little emphasis has been given on Water Quality. It has been found that in some homes, the pit latrines were used as they overflowed quickly, especially during the rainy season with the women then burdened with cleaning the mess. Many women are forced to take bath outside the premises of the house. Privacy of bath and Wash is challenged. Very few homes had covered drain to channel waste water. These had major impact on their bathing practices and laundry of menstrual cloth. Since district Kahgaria and Madhepura comes under extremely flood affected, it has implication on WASH for the people. Primitive solid waste management is practiced in the sample villages. Following were some of the recommendation of the study:
While much of the focus of the study was to find the infrastructure and governance but the discussion concluded in revelation of a much neglected but very important subject: how the poor state of WASH manifest in suffering of women and children due to poor access of quality water, drainage facility, toilet, lack of a private space to bathe or maintain menstrual hygiene are also hardships poor women and girls suffer throughout their lives. When these obstacles are compounded by the cultural norms, it makes it nearly impossible to practice good hygiene. Need assessment of these all implementing and monitoring body are very much needed to plan and implement institutional improvement support.
A “Service level agreement” based on SLB of GoI in area of WASH in needful for LBs/PRI. Train them to comply of SLA through support provisions is equally important.
An assessment is needed to establish the design fault of Toilet pits and Handpumps and advocacy is needful to correct the situation
Intensive awareness drive and demonstration involving government officer is highly recommended
It is advisable to create database which include status of infrastructure and re-plan those village in terms of WASH infrastructure.
Community groups is required to pressurize state government to buy or take lease of land for sanitary complex in the village and construction of community owned Sanitary complex is advisable
It is recommended that service provider should broaden its focus on personal hygiene to include not only hand washing behavior but also personal and menstrual hygiene. An independent study can be constituted to understand relation of poor WASH facility on menstrual health of women and girls.
A study on NBA & MGNEGS Convergence at Implementation level i.e. Villages and Gram Panchyats: NBA (Now SBM-G) is flagship scheme of Indian government which is expected to generate demand of Sanitation services and access of IHHL to all hoses . The intent is abolition of Open defecation practices. The scheme desires a social change that has implication for women dignity and preventive health care. The scheme from its very inception in year 1999 till date has been instrumental in reaching millions of house hold. NBA Bihar has also made tremendous contribution and reached among many extremely venerable households of our society. In fact, direct and indirect socio economic gains achieved due to NBA-Bihar cannot be weighed in terms of material & money.
Despite all successes in previous years, there are perceived gray area pertaining to Peoples participation, uses of House Hold Latrines, demand and supply Gaps, NBA implementation related issues. There is still scope of improvement in implementation. There is need to overcome hindrance by constant watch and needful changes in programme management, policies. It is imperative that the experience gains would be capitalized for continuous improvement.
On above background GSSG supported VISWASH network to constitute a study which gather critical information on operational issue faced by citizen and gram panchyat in implementation of NBA in villages.
A study namely “Game of choice not chance”: This study presently conducted under urban areas of Patna district supported by Population council consulting private Ltd. under this study we have identified 1300 Adolescents girls of age group 15 to 19 .Our research facilitators interact with them and collected data in prescribed questionnaire.
The objectives of the research study are to access the following:
a. To assess adolescents women’s perceptions around educational attainment, family planning and contraception, reproductive health, menstrual hygiene, sex, marriage, relationship, life aspirations, and well-being in urban India.
b. To identify barriers that adolescents women faces to accessing reproductive health services, counseling, menstrual hygiene products and other social support.
c. To gauge adolescents women’s engagement ,attitudes, and experiences with the Game of Choice serious game .