Water and Hygiene

The “Water and Hygiene Awareness Program” implemented by Sanjeevani Social Welfare Society in Sonbhadra district.

Water and Hygiene Awareness Initiative

Implemented by: Sanjeevani Social Welfare Society, Operational Area: Tribal Villages of Sonbhadra District, Uttar Pradesh.

Background and Need

Access to clean drinking water and hygienic practices remains one of the most serious public health challenges in the tribal and remote areas of Sonbhadra district.

Many tribal families rely on open ponds, pits, and unfiltered surface water sources for daily consumption. Due to lack of awareness and safe sanitation practices, these communities are highly vulnerable to waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, dysentery, typhoid, jaundice, and skin infections.

Recognizing this urgent need, Sanjeevani Social Welfare Society initiated a community-driven Water and Hygiene Awareness Program in the Nagawan block to promote safe drinking water practices and personal hygiene habits among tribal families

Objective of the Initiative

To ensure that every tribal household gains access to safe and clean drinking water.
To encourage the community to avoid consumption of stagnated or contaminated water.
To educate families on simple, low-cost water purification methods such as filtration and boiling.
To build awareness about personal hygiene, especially handwashing before meals and after using the toilet.
To promote a culture of community health responsibility and hygiene discipline in rural households.

Approach and Activities

The initiative is implemented through a network of trained volunteers known as “Sanjeevani Mitras” — community mobilizers selected from within the tribal population. These volunteers serve as health educators, role models, and motivators in their respective villages.

Key activities under the program include

Door-to-door awareness campaigns educating families about clean water practices.
Community meetings and workshops on filtering, boiling, and safe water storage techniques.
Demonstrations on how to use simple cloth or sand filters before boiling drinking water.
Handwashing awareness sessions using soap or ash — emphasizing critical times like before eating and after defecation.
Village sanitation drives to clean surroundings and discourage stagnant water accumulation.
Distribution of illustrated educational pamphlets in the local language for easier understanding.

Community Participation

The Sanjeevani Mitras have played a key role in mobilizing community participation. Through continuous interpersonal communication and demonstration, tribal families have started to

Filter and boil water before drinking.
Store water in covered, clean vessels.
Wash hands regularly and keep utensils clean.
Stop using pond or pit water for drinking purposes.
Children and women, in particular, have shown great enthusiasm and act as “change agents” within their families, inspiring others to adopt hygienic habits.

Impact and Outcomes

More than 1,500 tribal families in the benefitted through awareness and behavioural change activities.
Significant reduction in waterborne infections and diarrheal diseases observed in the intervention villages.
Improved hand hygiene practices among school children and families.
Enhanced community awareness on the link between clean water, hygiene, and health.
Villagers are now voluntarily cleaning ponds, wells, and their surroundings, ensuring a healthier environment.

Future Plans

Sanjeevani Social Welfare Society aims to scale up the initiative by:
Installing community water filters and promoting rainwater harvesting systems.
Training school teachers and children as “Water and Hygiene Ambassadors”.
Organizing joint workshops with health departments for long-term behavioral change.
Integrating the program with village-level sanitation and WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) projects supported by CSR and government schemes.

Conclusion

The Water and Hygiene Awareness Initiative of Sanjeevani Social Welfare Society is transforming lives in the tribal belt of Sonbhadra. By combining education, community participation, and practical demonstrations, the organization is ensuring that every family understands the simple truth — “Clean Water and Good Hygiene are the Foundation of Good Health.”

Through consistent grassroots action and awareness, Sanjeevani is creating a healthier, safer, and more self-reliant tribal community.

Water and Hygiene

Background and Need

Objective of the Initiative

Approach and Activities

Key activities under the program include

Community Participation

Impact and Outcomes

Future Plans

Conclusion

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