Gitaben will be healthier and more productive

Gitaben is a poor farmer in Bhavnagar, a town in Gujarat, India. She is part of a women’s federation called Utthan, which looks after the community interests of women that are main breadwinners for the family. One issue they face is not having access to toilets and washing facilities in their farming community. This poses a huge problem in terms of maintaining privacy, dignity and general health. Women often go days without eating in order to avoid having to go to the bathroom in the fields. This causes a series of illnesses and non productivity in the fields. Often other members of the household (generally seven including their in-laws) reject them for not being able to contribute to the household and farming duties — this leads to alienation.

Utthan and Shanti have partnered up to help them construct eco-sanitation toilets and washing facilities in their homes. Your donation will help them improve their health and be more productive in the fields. Most of all it will allow them to maintain their dignity. All the waste is recycled and used to grow crops.