The most vulnerable groups in India are the Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Scheduled Castes (SC), previously known as untouchables. One of the states with the highest population of SC and ST is Telangana, in the center of India. Telangana’s literacy levels are second to last among 33 Indian states. The state additionally has a high infant mortality rate which is a direct result of lack of development, entrenched poverty and a lack of access to water and sanitation.
Low literacy and awareness levels, stigma and social exclusion results in a lack of access to clean water and sanitation for these groups. The effects of unsafe water and inadequate sanitation is felt most acutely by women and girls, who spend hours each day collecting water. This daily drudgery is not only exhausting and arduous but it denies mothers the opportunity to go to work and prevents girls from going to school.
This project have improved almost 10,000 people’s health, livelihoods, education and security.
To address this, H&M Foundation had a partnership with FRANK Water, focusing on marginalized populations in Telangana. This project focused on 41 Banjara tribal communities in Telangana, central India, supporting them to transform their collective future. Safe water is often considered the gateway to further development but without sanitation and hygiene, safe water is rendered useless.
FRANK Water worked with communities to assess, plan and build their own water supply systems. Emphasis was also put on engaging with local health workers and on advocacy, engaging local politicians and government agencies to scale up work through leveraging government funding.
