Role of innovation in sustainable sanitation system: A case study of India

Abstract

Sanitation and water are one of those problems which have been given top priority in the sustainable agenda. However, scanty resources, geographical condition, natural environment, tradition, institutional and financial con-straints lead to several challenges of feasibility, affordability, availability, and acceptability. This study reveals the inequality in the access to improved toilet facilities based on wealth index and locality of households using National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data. These problems can be addressed by applying different types of social innovations in which novelty in product and process can play a crucial role. This paper critically examines the role of innovation which can play in expanding transition to sustainable development in the sanitation sector which needs some financial, organizational, and institutional agreement. The progress in sanitation sector is dependent on the consumer behavior. However, it still lacks a variety of quality-price ranges and its utility as the basic needs of dignified life.