Water and Sanitation Evaluation Services in India

WASH

Water Sanitation and Hygiene are key indicators of development of any nation. Prevention of contamination of water, treatment distribution and handling of drinking water, new innovations in water conservation as part of environmental change is the focus of the development professionals.

DevInsights professionals bring in significant experience and learning in the area of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. One of the founder members has authored a book titled, “Is it really clean? – Creating a WASH Index”, was initially rooted in the idea that available data on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) should be simplified for easier interpretation and comparison across study units. It is the fundamental right of the human being to have access to clean Water and Sanitation as well as proper hygiene education, which in turn can reduce morbidity and death. This also impacts poverty and socioeconomic development. Poor sanitation contributes to diarrhea deaths especially among children. And chronic diarrhea can have a negative effect on physical and cognitive development in children. Adding to the problem, lack of WASH facilities prevent students from attending school, makes women vulnerable and diminish productivity.

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals aim to provide universal access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) globally by 2030. However, over 844 million people worldwide still lack access to basic drinking water, while more than 2.3 billion people lack access to basic sanitation. Furthermore, millions of girls are forced to abandon their studies each year due to menstrual hygiene issues, and hygiene-related illnesses like diarrhea and pneumonia continue to be the leading cause of death for children under age five. Shockingly, more children die from WASH-related causes than from malaria, AIDS, and tuberculosis combined.

Although COVID-19 has highlighted the significance of hand hygiene in preventing the spread of disease, three billion people worldwide, including millions of school-going children, do not have access to handwashing facilities with soap. This issue affects people living in urban slums, disaster-prone areas, rural regions, and low-income countries the most, rendering them vulnerable to the dangers of poor WASH conditions. To address these global challenges and make progress toward achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals related to WASH, various interventions and evaluations are necessary to ensure success in this critical area.

DevInsights’ professionals bring extensive expertise and knowledge to the critical domain of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH). Notably, one of our founding members has authored a book titled, “Is It Really Clean? – Creating a WASH Index.” This book originated from the belief that existing data on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) needed simplification for more accessible interpretation and cross-study unit comparison.

We firmly advocate that access to clean water, sanitation, and proper hygiene education is a fundamental human right. This not only reduces morbidity and mortality but also plays a pivotal role in addressing poverty and fostering socioeconomic development. The detrimental impact of poor sanitation is especially evident in the context of diarrhea-related deaths, predominantly among children. Chronic diarrhea further jeopardizes the physical and cognitive development of young minds. Compounding these challenges, the lack of WASH facilities acts as a barrier to education, hindering students from attending school, leaving women vulnerable, and undermining overall productivity.

At DevInsights, our commitment is rooted in understanding the intricate connections between WASH, health, education, and socioeconomic well-being. Through our collective experience and dedication, we strive to contribute meaningfully to the realization of universal access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, aligning with the broader global efforts outlined in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Below are the several projects we have undertaken under the theme of WASH.