Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad is a rapidly growing city in the state of Maharashtra with a population of half a million. Approximately 15% of the city's population lives in slums with minimal access to basic infrastructure. The city municipal corporation has not been able to make any significant improvement in infrastructure for the past 20 years. The FIRE project has been working with the SMKMC for the past 4 years, promoting city management reforms. In 2001, SMKMC made a request to the FIRE project for assistance in developing a strategy for basic services to the poor. Shelter associates, a Pune based NGO, associated with FIRE to improve access to basic services for Sangli's poor.

• Analyze data on low-income groups in the city
• Set up a city level forum to provide policy guidance and monitor the progress of the work
• Identify the low-income settlements and physical survey of selected settlements
• Mapping and analysis of data
• Selection of strategy: Individual, shared or community toilets based on availability of sewerage lines and affordability
• Formation and orientation of community level groups
• Design of community toilets with active participation of community and ULB officials
• SMKMC gave approval to SA to assist households in three selected slums to construct individuals
• SA started construction of 500 individual toilets
• SA assisted communities of two slums to register its community-based organizations

Improved sanitation facilities, coupled with improved hygiene behaviour, has resulted in better health and well-being for the target communities.

The Sangli model has demonstrated the feasibility of household financial contributions for individual toilet construction and community-managed/shared/public toilet model.
The program is an effective solution for improving service delivery for the urban poor. The Sangli Project model can be replicated in any city and at a much larger level. This approach can be funded under the Basic Service For The Poor (BUSP) or Integrated Housing And Slum Development Program (IHSDP) of the JNNURM.

For further details, contact:

Ms. Pratima Joshi
Director,
Shelter Associates