Toilets

A toilet is an essential amenity to have at each creche center. However, we must keep multiple factors in consideration before taking the final decision. Here are different situations and approaches that can be used and referred to. It is good to prioritize this right from the very beginning. Ideally this should be shared in the Gram Sabhas or community meetings right at the beginning, as we expect three requirements to be fulfilled by the community which are - space, caregivers and facilities (primarily water and toilet).

Conditions	What to Do	Approaches/Strategies to be adopted
General Case—Applies to almost all geographies and situation	Mandate Toilet Facilities	1. Involve and ask the communities to take complete responsibility for ensuring toilet facilities at the center. 2. Request the owner (private houses) to cover the expenses of constructing or renovating toilet. 3. Multiple options of providing financial support to owners for getting the toilet functional can be used other than the above two— a) Advance rent for 5 to 6 months can be provided to owner, which will be adjusted from the monthly rent. b) If the agreed rent is less than the upper ceiling, in bargain of the construction of the toilet, rent can be increased closer to or up to the upper ceiling. c) Combination of a and b can also be exercised. 4. A house with a common toilet can also be considered. 5. If nothing works and if we want to construct a toilet, a simple working toilet with a reasonable pit size and with a simple wall with brick, bamboo and mud or sheet can be constructed. The cost of the construction can either be shared by the organization, the owner or the community. 6. In the case of community centers, for which we are not paying the rent, construction of the toilet can be done either with a shared cost structure or completely borne by the organization.
Special cases	Alternatives to be explored	In places or geographies where none of the above approaches seem to be working, primarily because of challenging locations, water scarcity, or complete absence of toilet practices, it can be discussed within the team, including Foundation Members. In such cases, alternatives—including the identification of places for safe defecation and disposal—need to be discussed within the team and with the communities (Gram Sabhas), and caregivers should be trained and supported in this. However, a constant interaction with the various community members must continue to explore the opportunity for constructing one.