Building Flood-Proof Toilets and Smarter Monitoring to Improve Sanitation in India

This research project focuses on improving public sanitation in India, particularly in flood-prone areas such as Bihar, where regular toilets often become unusable during heavy rains. When this happens, families are forced to go back to open defecation, which increases the risk of waterborne diseases and puts women and girls at particular risk of harassment and illness. 

This exploratory project aims to investigate two key concepts. First, to test a special type of raised toilet designed to stay functional even during floods. These sustainable toilets are built on platforms to stay above floodwater and use safe waste disposal methods. The project will also examine whether training local women’s groups to maintain these toilets can further improve cleanliness and long-term use. Second, the project aims to improve how villages are monitored for being “open defecation free” under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), India’s flagship sanitation program. Presently,  many villages self-declare their sanitation status. Researchers will explore low-cost monitoring strategies to strengthen the verification of status.

This exploratory exercise will involve interviews with stakeholders, visits to flood-affected areas, and consultations with implementation partners. The goal is to assist the Indian government in identifying low-cost, effective ways to improve sanitation for vulnerable communities, ensure that toilets work even in extreme weather conditions and sanitation goals are met sustainably.