Sanitation is crucial, particularly in rural areas where access to safe and hygienic facilities remains limited. Recognising this need, AM Foundation has been working towards improving sanitation standards to promote better health, dignity, and quality of life for underserved communities.
In observance of the World Toilet Day – marked earlier this month – we reflect on the progress we have made in providing essential sanitation services to schools and households in need.
Sanitation in Schools
There correlation between lack of proper sanitation facilities in rural government schools and absenteeism is long established, particularly among girls. To address this challenge, AM Foundation has built gender-specific sanitation blocks in government schools across Tamil Nadu. These were built with the support of our corporate members as part of their CSR initiatives.
These newly constructed sanitation blocks provide a clean, safe and private space for students, removing at least one deterrent to them attending school regularly. The introduction of these facilities has significantly increased school attendance, particularly for girls, in the communities we serve. Significantly, the toilets we have built also ensure access to proper hygiene facilities during menstruation, helping to break a stigma exacerbated by inadequate infrastructure.
Sanitation for Households
In addition to schools, AM Foundation has extended its efforts to provide hygienic sanitation to households in underserved areas. By constructing private toilets for families, we are improving access to safe sanitation in communities where open defecation is still prevalent.
This initiative ensures that families have access to private, hygienic toilets, which in turn helps reduce the spread of waterborne diseases and improves overall public health. Significantly, it also enhances personal dignity, particularly for women and children, who are often the most vulnerable in areas without proper sanitation.
Clean Water Initiatives
AM Foundation’s work in sanitation is complemented by its clean water initiatives, which aim to ensure that communities have safe drinking water. By providing clean water to schools and local communities, we address health and hygiene challenges at the broader level.
Access to safe drinking water helps prevent waterborne diseases, which are a very real concern in many underserved regions. Our clean water initiatives are designed to compliment our sanitation efforts seamlessly, fostering healthier and more resilient communities.
Impact to Date
We are proud to state that AM Foundation has made significant strides in transforming the lives of many households. We have built sanitation blocks in more than 50 government schools, benefiting more than 40,000 students. Our household sanitation programme has provided hygienic toilets to numerous families, ensuring better health and dignity.
By improving sanitation and access to clean water, the AM Foundation is contributing to better health outcomes, and supporting educational attainment and social equity. These efforts demonstrate our commitment to ensuring that every individual has access to basic sanitation facilities, which are critical for health, dignity, and well-being.
Looking Ahead
Good sanitation facilities are integral building healthier, more equitable communities. While significant progress has been made, there is still a lot to be done.
AM Foundation remains steadfast in its commitment to expanding its efforts and ensure access to safe, hygienic sanitation facilities the communities we serve.
