A Healthy Investment - A success story on latrine construction

Agon is one of the many remote villages in the Mewat region of rural Haryana , India . The region is very underdeveloped and its inhabitants live without many basic sanitation amenities including drainage and latrines.

The Sehgal Foundation adopted Agon in 2002 to develop it as a model village. At the time, Agon had 602 houses, a population of over 4,729, but only two private latrines. The rest of the village used open fields for defecating. Many villagers had difficulty reaching the fields through the village streets, which were narrow, waterlogged and filthy, due to the practice of dumping domestic water on the streets, caused by a lack of proper drainage facilities.

Since 2002, The Sehgal Foundation has promoted the construction of latrines in each house and is educating different target groups about the importance of hygiene and sanitation. Soak pits were introduced as a low cost structure for waste water disposal allowing water to seep into the ground.

Unfortunately, success with promotion of the latrine has been limited as people are used to the open fields and find a small area confining. However personal discussions with individual families have been successful. Muneeri and Noor Mohammed are one couple from Agon who are delighted with their decision to build a private latrine. They share their experience below.

It's Beginning to Work

Muneeri and Noor Mohammed are an old couple from Agon. They live in a single room dwelling with no electricity. Their four children have left the house and settled in different places, but the old couple still depend on their children for their livelihood. The Sehgal Foundation's field workers talked to the couple about the importance of the latrine and how they could build one in their home. They explained the different models they could choose, depending on their ability to pay. The area required for the construction of the latrine, and the two pits for disposal, was clearly detailed. Muneeri was not sure if it was worth spending 2,500 rupees to construct a latrine, and she also worried that part of their backyard would be covered.

Noor is 70 years old, and he often finds it tiring to walk from his home, which is in the middle of the village, to the outskirts of the village to relieve himself. He said, "At this old age, my legs and arms have become weak. I often worry about slipping in the muddy streets. Sometimes I lose control due to the pressure and spoil my clothes. Severe weather conditions or diarrhea are miserable times for me." He was happy that the Foundation was willing to assist them, so without much persuasion, he agreed to have a latrine constructed in their backyard.

Within a few days, Muneeri and Noor realized the comfort of having a latrine within reach. They feel privileged to use and own a latrine. "I am a poor man, but my money has been spent for the right cause," said Noor. Muneeri is equally happy. She said, "I fought with my husband when he agreed to have a latrine constructed in the backyard, but now I realize how beneficial it is to have one. It has made our lives very comfortable. Since only a little space in the corner of the yard was used and the pits are underground, our backyard still looks the same." She further added, "When my grandchildren visit us, I frequently had to walk them to the fields, but now I don't have to worry. My children appreciated our decision."

Muneeri is overwhelmed and she cannot stop talking about their new investment. She also has a message for all of the fellow villagers. "Owning materialistic things may or may not be necessary, but every house must have a latrine". Such inspiring responses from villagers like Muneeri and Noor encourage the Foundation's efforts and also help bring awareness to the community in a short period of time. This accomplishment is spreading across the village and is bringing hope for change.

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