Our Motivation

SHRI believes that every woman, child, and man in India deserves access to high-quality and convenient sanitation. Unfortunately, this is not a reality for over 238 million people, who are forced to defecate in the open because they lack access to a toilet. They are unable to build household toilets due to poverty, overcrowding, and inadequate sewer connectivity. Children who defecate in the open are at greater risk of enteric infections that lead to stunted growth and development, contributing to intergenerational poverty and poor health. Women and girls who defecate in the open experience threats to privacy and dignity, are susceptible to sexual assault, and restrict food and water to avoid open defecation. Elderly people who defecate in the open are at a greater risk for anxiety and depression.

We are committed to providing a preferential sanitation option for India’s poorest and most marginalized communities, and are driven by the fact that their right to this basic infrastructure should be guaranteed. We work towards this goal by improving access to high-quality shared sanitation facilities. Shared facilities are critical in communities where households cannot afford private toilet construction, do not have space for one, or lack access to piped sewer networks.  

Currently SHRI operates 14 facilities that are used over 6,000 times daily, helping preserve dignity and safety for women, children, and men. We keep toilet use free so as to not impose a financial barrier to use.