Resources

The provision of adequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities are important for the prevention of COVID-19 outbreak. In absence of these facilities and lack of awareness about disease-prevention measures, urban poor, including low-income groups and vulnerable households living in slums and other informal settlements, are at even greater risk of COVID-19. This brief highlights measures which could be undertaken by urban local bodies to address these challenges.

Insights

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India has issued an advisory on ‘Safe Management of Water Supply and Sanitation Services during COVID-19 crisis’, which mentions suggestions for urban local bodies regarding water safety, community toilets, waste management, and sanitation workers’ safety. However, several field reports suggest that challenges for the urban poor, related to disruptions in water supply and access to sanitation and hygiene facilities have multiplied in the last two months. In order to address these challenges, suggestions for urban local bodies (ULBs) have been listed in this brief.