Apr 2025
Mahila Housing Trust: Encouraging communities to adopt responsible sanitation behaviour
In Indiranagar, Ahmedabad, open defecation wasn’t just a sanitation issue—it was a daily threat to safety and dignity. Women and girls faced harassment, verbal abuse, and even violence while stepping out to relieve themselves. Among them was 17-year-old Gomti, a determined young leader who had seen these risks up close. When a girl from her community was assaulted on her way to defecate, Gomti knew something had to change.
For years, Meena Ben, a community leader from Mahila Housing Trust (MHT), had been visiting households in Indiranagar, spreading awareness about the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA)—a national campaign focused on improving sanitation and eradicating open defecation. Many in the community had been sceptical of the initiative, but over time, they began to see its value. This was when Gomti realised that she could anchor her efforts in a more impactful way using MHT's support.
MHT, a grassroots organisation working across Gujarat, Rajasthan, and other states, empowers women to lead solutions in housing, sanitation, and climate resilience. Recognising Gomti’s drive, Meena Ben connected her with the organisation, opening new avenues for action. Through their initiatives on sanitation and health, Gomti and 40 other young women stepped up to challenge the status quo.
At first, many families hesitated. But Gomti and her peers engaged in intensive door-to-door awareness campaigns, explaining the risks of poor sanitation and the benefits of safe toilets. They conducted digital surveys, collected data on toilet usage, and mobilised families to apply for government sanitation schemes. Slowly, with repeated interventions, doubts gave way to action. Today, most households in her community have individual toilets with water and drainage connections!
Recognising the need for sustained efforts, Gomti worked with MHT to establish a community-based organisation (CBO) of women trained in participatory decision-making, advocacy, and governance. These women now convene monthly to discuss pressing issues, push for infrastructure improvements, and liaise with local authorities to ensure their rights are upheld.
Beyond her neighbourhood, Gomti has taken her efforts to other settlements across Ahmedabad—Vadaj, Sarkhej, Bokda Talav, and more. And she is not alone. Across multiple states, women like her are leading similar efforts, ensuring that access to safe sanitation and clean water is not just a service, but a right upheld through collective action. So far MHT's initiatives, have enabled 59,683 households to access proper sanitation and 53,438 households to secure potable water—creating lasting change through community-led leadership.