National consultation on disability-inclusive sanitation, 2024

Held in September 2024 in Jaipur, the consultation addressed the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in accessing sanitation in India, highlighting systemic ableism, legal frameworks, and intersectional barriers. It aimed to promote inclusive sanitation standards, raise awareness, and develop actionable strategies to ensure sanitation as a basic human right for all, with an emphasis on dignity and equity.

What you’ll find in this report

  • Insights on the barriers faced by over 26 million persons with disabilities in India, including social stigma and lack of accessible infrastructure
  • Analysis of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016) and its limited accountability mechanisms for inclusive sanitation
  • Key discussions on structural ableism, intersectionality, sexual and reproductive health rights, and caregiver experiences
  • Guidance on integrating universal design principles and fostering cross-sector collaboration for accessible sanitation systems
  • Reflections on how gender, caste, and class shape sanitation access and experiences for persons with disabilities
  • Calls for participatory research, disaggregated data, and active involvement of persons with disabilities in shaping inclusive WASH policies and programmes

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