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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.

91 million Lack access to safe water
Capital: New Delhi
Population of 1.38 billion
229 million people lack access to improved sanitation
43% of the total population lives on less than $3.20 per day

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.
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27 partners in India
$995 M $995 million in loans disbursed by our partners
4.3 M 4.3 million loans disbursed for water and 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.

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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.

  • Stories of Impact

    Anita's family is safe

    Anita wanted to give her girls a safe, healthy place to go but, the thought of paying for a private toilet at home felt financially impossible. How could she save to build a toilet when the costs of living were already too high? Read about how a small loan helped Anita solve her family's sanitation crisis.

    Read more
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  • Stories of Impact

    It's time for school

    Water makes time for school possible for kids in Rasulpur and around the world. When kids have access to safe water at home they can walk to school instead of walk to collect water.

    Read more
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  • Stories of Impact

    Usha

    In a small community outside of Hyderabad, India, Usha is one of many women who used small, affordable loans to construct a water tap or toilet at home.

    Read more
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See all India stories

India impact statistics

People reached 20 million

The number of people who now have access to safe water or sanitation and the health and opportunity they bring.

Capital mobilized (USD) $995 million

Our partners mobilize funds from capital markets to provide water and sanitation loans.

Loans disbursed 4.3 million

Our local partners make loans to people in need for life-changing safe water and sanitation solutions.

Number of active partners 27

We work with financial institutions, service providers, international agencies, and governments to make an impact.

Repayment rate 99%

Every repaid loan means another family in need can get affordable access to safe water at home.

Average loan size (USD) $228

Small loans can help make a big difference by providing long-term solutions for families in need around the world.

Percent of women borrowers 99%

Women are primarily responsible for household water collection and are solving the water crisis for their families.

Households living under $6.00/day 94%

We are committed to helping people living in poverty get access to safe water and sanitation solutions at home.

To help us reach more people in need of safe water and sanitation in India, donate today.

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