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POLICY REVIEW

GENDER INCLUSIVE SANITATION IN INDIA

A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE TO URBAN PLANNING

MS. AAKRITI SINGHAI The United Nations’ 17 and gender equality. Health and
Sustainable Development Goals
dignity outcomes are ultimately
ADV. KRATI SINGHAI (SDGs), which were proposed intertwined, and indicators
after comprehensive discussions should be used to measure and
with stakeholders around the assess both under a human
world, set targets for countries rights framework. This article
to achieve by 2030. Gender uses a gender lens to examine
“The essence and substance of Equality has been considered as the existing legal and policy
women’s right to sanitation a very important development framework for sanitation in India
in India, goes beyond the Agenda in the SDGs. Equality and highlights that sanitation in
construction of toilets and the and non-discrimination also publicly shared spaces—in slums
creation of an ‘open defecation- form the foundation of Articles and schools and streets—must be
free Bharat’. The main takeaway 14 and 15 of the Constitution pulled out of its current neglect
has been the value of strong of India and are well recognized in public policy circles to become
governance and participatory fundamental rights. a cornerstone of sustainable
mechanism. Women-inclusive In India, sanitation interventions development and inclusive
programme preparation, gender- have largely ignored the gender planning. This research focuses
disaggregated data collection aspects of sanitation and hygiene. on SDG 5’s gender equality
and field research are all things As a result, women’s sanitation agenda and how it intersects
with SDG 6, which will improve
that the sector needs to work on. and hygiene requirements, as the SDGs’ “social” pillar by
Legal and policy interventions well as their vulnerabilities, improving access to water and
could go a long way in building have received insufficient sanitation, which is a key enabler
equitable cities.” consideration. While the legal and for achieving gender equality in
policy structure for sanitation urban areas. By illustrating the
addresses some of the women’s case of gender, this paper also
issues, implementation at the emphasises the importance of a
Key-words: Sustainable Development; local level has almost entirely coordinated approach to SDG
Gender Equality; Inclusive cities; ignored them, raising serious
Sanitation; Public Policy; Legal concerns about gender equality. implementation.
framework, SDG6, open defecation free This article examines the This article is an attempt to
current legal and policy system define the essence and substance
Ms. Aakriti Singhai (aakriti.123000@
gmail.com) is Masters in Planning in India relating to sanitation of women’s right to sanitation
(Housing), SPA, New Delhi and Adv. from a gender perspective. in India, which goes beyond the
Krati Singhai Masters in Law (LL.M.), Equal access to sanitation is a construction of toilets and the
National Law Institute University gateway service for ensuring creation of an “open defecation-
NLIU, Bhopal human dignity, human health, free Bharat.” The main takeaway

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