More toilet infrastructures do not nullify open defecation: a perspective from squatter settlements in megacity Mumbai

Abstract

Sanitation problems faced by the humanity are tightly coupled with the ever-growing water problems. Better sanitation infrastructures ensure sustainable solutions to the health and water issues faced by the majority of the urban population on the planet. In this study, we investigated sanitation status for squatter settlements in Mumbai, a major global megacity. We observe that capacity building in terms of adequate toilet infrastructure alone cannot eliminate open defecation. There is a huge need for more toilet blocks in Mumbai’s wards, even after considering unusable public and community toilets into account, since 71–99% out of 8417 toilets are not in good condition. We contend that the normal perception regarding more toilet infrastructures and its alleviating effect on open defecation is not always directly correlated and is an emerging as well as a complex urban issue. We corroborate the need for addressing associated governance issues along with capacity building, which will help stakeholders to identify the prevailing sanitation scenario towards further policy amendments. Further, effectively identifying the trends and processes entangled in the urban sanitation issues can ensure a more sustainable resource utilization situation and a better standard of living for the urban poor.