Gendered Burden of WASH Responsibilities
“For millions of women and girls, fetching water and managing household sanitation isn’t just a chore—it’s a daily struggle that shapes their lives and opportunities.”
Out of India’s total population, around 91 million people do not have access to clean water sources and more than 746 million people still lack access to safely managed household sanitation facilities. For girls attending school, 23% drop out on reaching puberty because of lack of access to menstrual hygiene products and clean toilets and water. In urban India, the absence of toilets or presence of unhygienic and poorly designed toilets restrict women from joining the workforce or continuing their employment.
WASH Impacts on Women - Intersectional Challenges and the “Double Burden”
Managing household sanitation responsibilities and coping with poor working conditions often leads to chronic health problems and financial instability and is termed as “Double Burden”
At home, women bear primary responsibility for maintaining sanitation and fetching water, tasks that are both time-intensive and physically taxing, particularly in households lacking basic facilities. This burden extends into their jobs, where poor working conditions, exposure to health risks, and inadequate support amplify the risk of chronic health problems and financial instability. Together, these dual pressures hinder their well-being, limiting their economic mobility and reinforcing cycles of poverty.
The hidden cost – Women's Health
The lack of safe and private sanitation facilities impact women’s health in significant ways. Without proper facilities, women face higher risks of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and reproductive health issues. UNICEF in 2022 reports that in small towns, 30% of women lack access to safe and private toilets. For menstruating and pregnant women, inadequate WASH services can increase the risk of infections, anemia, and complications during pregnancy. These challenges, combined with stigma and limited privacy, also impact mental well-being, leading to stress and emotional distress.
For women sanitation workers, these issues are amplified. As frontline workers responsible for cleaning streets and maintaining public hygiene, they face harsh working conditions, limited safety protections, and severe social stigma. The International Labour Organization (ILO) reports 98% of sanitation workers in India do not have any form of health insurance or social protection. The lack of access to basic rights and safety equipment, such as gloves, masks, or proper uniforms, means that these workers are highly vulnerable to health issues that could otherwise be mitigated.
Economic Insecurity and Gender Pay Gaps
The economic impact of poor sanitation access on women is profound.
Women lose significantly 10% of working days each year due to inadequate sanitation, particularly during menstruation.
This absenteeism limits women’s earning potential, disrupts their careers, and affects their long-term financial independence. The cumulative economic cost to India is substantial, with the World Bank estimating that poor sanitation costs the country 6.4% of its GDP, a significant portion of which disproportionately affects women and girls.
Economic insecurity is a reality for most women in the sanitation workforce. Evidence shows that women sanitation workers earn up to 50% less than their male counterparts and are often employed on a contractual or daily-wage basis, with little to no benefits. According to a study by Oxfam India 2023 Report, the average monthly income for a woman sanitation worker is between 3,000 and 6,000 INR—far below the minimum living wage for urban areas. In comparison, male counterparts in similar roles often earn up to 20% more, exacerbating the economic vulnerabilities faced by female workers. Furthermore, around 90% of women in this sector are on a contractual or informal basis. This lack of formal employment status means they do not qualify for benefits such as health insurance, pensions, or paid leave.
In Bangalore, male sanitation workers under BBMP earn 12,000-18,000 INR per month while the women sanitation workers receive 6000-10000 INR with many on daily wage contracts or hired through contractors. Women often earn around 40–50% less than male counterparts in similar roles, largely because more women are employed on a daily wage basis without the security of permanent employment.
Towards Gender-Inclusive WASH Policies - The Urgent Need
The lack of gender-sensitive WASH policies traps women in poverty, health risks, and limited economic opportunities. Women sanitation workers, largely unseen, bear the brunt of inadequate sanitation policies, facing daily health hazards, economic insecurity, and violence. To break this cycle, policymakers must amplify women’s voices in WASH decisions, secure fair pay, ensure safe work environments, and collect gender-specific data to drive change. It's time for urgent action to reform WASH policies to be gender sensitive. Empowering women through better WASH access is not just an issue of sanitation; it’s a fundamental matter of equity, human rights, and justice. It’s time for transformative action to ensure all women can lead healthy, dignified, and economically stable lives.