India
India's water and sanitation crisis
With a population of 1.38 billion people, India is the second most populous country in the world. More than 6% of this population lack access to safe water and about 15% of India’s population practices open defecation. A lack of household water connections and toilets contributes largely to water-borne illnesses, stunting, and death.
In India and around the world, millions are navigating the COVID-19 pandemic with the added challenge of living without access to safe water. Now more than ever access to safe water is critical to the health of families in India.
These factors, combined with the current political push to end this crisis, has created unprecedented urgency to implement effective solutions to increase access to safe water and sanitation.
Our impact in India
Since 2005, Water.org has played a significant role in India’s progress toward improved water and sanitation, empowering more than 18 million people with access to safe water or sanitation.
By partnering with different types of organizations, including microfinance institutions, self-help group federations, state rural livelihoods missions, commercial banks, payment banks, social enterprises and the government of India, we are mobilizing resources and sharing knowledge to increase access to improved sanitation and safe water.
Together with our partners, we've changed the lives of more than 20 million people in India with access to safe water or sanitation.

Water.org is heavily invested in India and strategically positioned to catalyze the national push to end the country’s water crisis. We continue to coordinate and partner closely with key multilateral development finance institutions and government partners in India, such as the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation's Swachh Bharat Mission, UNICEF, the World Bank, WaterAid, and smaller local organizations.
Through these partnerships we are working to influence public policy and practice changes that make more funds available for water and sanitation solutions across the country.

Sunita has safe water at home
Watch to hear from Sunita how affordable, lasting access to safe water at home has changed her life in south India.
India impact statistics
To help us reach more people in need of safe water and sanitation in India, donate today.
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