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Dated 8th January, 2025

There are multiple factors behind poor management of climate resilient WASH services in urban slums. Despite all such challenges, there are instances of remarkable achievement which demonstrates the potential of possible improvement in WASH services in urban slums with equity and inclusiveness by integrating GEDSI approaches. The changes are the results of collaborative efforts of many stakeholders covering the government authorities, the community and their collectives, NGOs, agencies providing technology-driven services and UN agencies like UNICEF and UNFPA. Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR) played a critical role in catalyzing the changes by working with the community in selected wards in Bhubaneswar and Jaipur from the year 2018. SIGMA Foundation has documented such good practices which aim to understand what strategies were successful in addressing WASH challenges in urban slum settings of Bhubaneswar and Jaipur. The documentation also captures the enabling factors behind the success, the preparatory steps for appropriately designing the strategy and the processes followed to trigger and sustain changes.

The documentation required a comprehensive understanding of WASH-related challenges in the context of climate change and environmental sustainability and dynamics of the urban slum communities by going through secondary literatures and collecting primary data, mostly qualitative from the said two cities. The stakeholders were identified by the field teams of CFAR and they also assisted to prepare the micro-planning for collecting data. Semi-structured FGD and discussion points for KIIs were prepared by team of SIGMA Foundation in consultation with the team of CFAR. Qualitative data was collected from nine different categories of stakeholders. Total 15 FGDs and 44 KIIs were conducted in the two cities. Several PRA exercises were also carried out along with transect walk around the WASH facilities and the slums by the study team. The data was analysed to compile a report, which was submitted to CFAR based on the data.

The documentation has brought out the processes which evolved in the journey of the community members from being a passive recipient of services which was of quality far below the prescribed standard to being a co-owner of the infrastructure and the services, which they planned together with the service delivery authorities and implemented together to meet their needs. One critical process that was followed in the journey was inclusiveness of all members of the community by ensuring participation of women, differently abled, aged, the most marginalized and the trans-gender communities who had different requirements, organizing their collectives at community and Ward level and empowering them to sustain the service deliveries.

Dated: 1st January 2025

SIGMA Foundation has entered a partnership with Landesa, Seattle, USA to educate around 10,000 tribal women SHG members associated with 63 LAMPS (Large Scale Multipurpose Societies) in the district of Bankura, Jhargram, Purulia and West Midnapur. The project is supported by the Tribal Welfare Department, Government of West Bengal. The project duration is one year starting from the 1st January 2025. Attaining more knowledge on land and land rights as well as understanding how to update land records, which will be covered in the training, will empower the tribal women attending the training. This will also help their households to access government supports in agriculture and institutional finance to improve crop production and income. The training will also help in preventing alienation of land owned by the tribal people.

Dated: 10th December 2024

We often hear about the burden of the population in India, with relative neglect of the fact that around 9.7 million potential workers are added every year in the country, which can change the future of this great nation, provided this population is educated and trained adequately and effectively to join the workforce. Unfortunately, the socio-economically underprivileged population in the country has little scope to get adequate exposure or encouragement to study subjects like Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). American India Foundation Trust (AIFT) has taken initiatives to bridge India’s educational divide by targeting underserved and under-resourced government schools in various states through its Digital Equalizer program. SIGMA Foundation is proud to become a partner in this endeavor by preparing baseline reports in three states, viz. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and, Chandigarh, and working on the baseline report of Uttar Pradesh. Around 3000 students from 23 schools, both girls and boys, of classes 6 to 10 participated in the study which consisted of information regarding their family background, especially educational and occupational details of the parents, school attendance, availability of Computer classes in the schools, and use of these facilities for teaching. The study also covered assessing the level of interest among the students in studying STEM subjects and opting for career pathways in the stream. Further, the students were also evaluated for two subjects viz. science and mathematics.

The study found that despite the poor educational attainment of most parents, the students attended schools regularly and had a fair degree of academic aspirations. However, the scores of the students in science and mathematics were mostly between modest and poor with very few students performing excellently. Some students mentioned difficulty in following the classes and some have blamed themselves for their inability to understand the classroom transactions. A strong connection between the father’s education level and the student’s academic aspiration was evident. Awareness about STEM subjects and career options is quite poor among students indicating the necessity of such interventions.

Dated: 3rd December 2024

Ordinary Intervention cladded in Extraordinary Belief: SIGMA Foundation is renowned to work in the arena of blending technology and social engineering to give sustainable decentralized environmental solutions to the community. Jangipara GP in Hooghly district of West Bengal embarks to be climate resilient with the support of SIGMA Foundation aided by Sign of Hope, Germany. With sustained efforts of our community mobilizers and environmental engineers who chose to be an integral part of the community to own their problem for days throughout the project execution period ends to give promising results.

The GP has successfully organised day long training program of the GP members on climate change, water security and interventions for climate resilient water management and 41 members were trained. Sixteen sensitization camps were in the community were organized for successful community mobilization. The community outreach was 459 people including farmer’s and SHG members. Water security plan was prepared for the GP and the significance of its integration with GPDP was successfully advocated. The community engagement was followed by construction of two rooftop rainwater harvesting structures and one grey water recycling structure to benefit the community. The two structures in the two schools of the GP will help to conserve annually 118 kl and 86 kl of water respectively. Also, the GP will be able to reduce annual extraction of freshwater by 260 kl approximately per annum as the groundwater requirement for farming will be replaced by recycled water.

The implementation project successfully showcases environmental benefits like water conservation, energy conservation, effective artificial recharge process, long term water security. The community has been successfully benefited on the aspects of increased community awareness, demonstration of technology before the community, improved access to water and health and sanitation benefits.

One major benefit is that the GP is now capacitated to take up such projects of their own. They have already started constructing two such structures at their own cost in one college and one school, with guidance from SIGMA Foundation. They are planning to establish two more rainwater harvesting structure in 2025-26, which shows their understanding and commitment.

Dated: 18th November 2024

Per capita availability of fresh water in India is declining over the years and climate change is exasperating the problem. Many areas face problem in accessing drinking water during summer months. Out of total annual freshwater use, less than 10 percent is used for domestic purposes while around 80 percent is used for agriculture. So, availability of drinking water cannot be ensured without a holistic water security. Because of climate change there is uncertainty of availability water even during the kharif session, which is increasing the risk of agriculture causing both food insecurity and livelihood crisis. So, preparing holistic Water Security Plan (WSP) is critically important.

Recently, the Panchayats have been directed to prepare their annual plan on 9 different themes of which one is “water sufficient village”. Such planning on a yearly basis will be more effective by preparing a holistic WSP for any area. Preparation of WSP has not received priority as it requires support of experts of geohydrology, remote sensing, GIS etc. SIGMA Foundation has taken up a project to prepare a WSP for Jangipara GP within Jangipara block of Hooghly district with grants from Sign of Hope, Germany. The block has been classified as semi-critical implying that 70 to 90 percent of its groundwater resources has been exploited and there is steady decline of static groundwater table. WSP will address the issue of unsustainable drawl of groundwater.
The GP has an area of around 18 sq km with a population of little above 28,000. The cropping intensity of the GP is 196 percent, implying that intensive agriculture is practiced in that area.

WSP was prepared with active participation of the GP and the people living there, who helped to collect primary data on surface water storage and knowledge, attitude and practice related to water use. Secondary data was collected from the GP and the agriculture department and processing of satellite image (Landsat 8 OLI). Land Use & Land Cover (LULC) plan was prepared for the years 2014 and 2024 using the satellite date. To determine groundwater potential zone in the study area, 12 thematic maps, viz., LULC, geology, geomorphology, soil texture, topographic elevation (Digital Elevation Model or DEM), slope, drainage density, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), rainfall, groundwater table depth of pre-monsoon and post-monsoon and seasonal groundwater fluctuation map has been generated using satellite imagery and various conventional datasets. Topographic elevation (DEM), slope and drainage density map have been developed from SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission) DEM at 90-meter spatial resolution. Annual availability of replenishable quantity of water (both surface and groundwater and rainfall that is directly used) and annual demand of water has been estimated to work out the water balance. The groundwater recharge potential zone has been delineated. The WSP provides several recommendations to augment water availability and control demand of water. The plan has been discussed with the GP and they have already started implementing various rainwater harvesting structure with guidance of SIGMA Foundation.

We are delighted to announce that one of our critical research works titled “Environmental Enteropathy: A Critical Challenge in Indian Public Health” have been published by Dr. Debasri Mukherjee, Senior Research Officer, SIGMA Foundation and Dr. M.N. Roy, President, SIGMA Foundation in IJFMR Volume 6, Issue 5, September – October 2024 with DOI 10.36948/ijfmr.2024.v06i05.28348. The unique publication deals with association of WASH with Stunting in 4 most affected states in India namely Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar and Assam. The paper analytically reviews various literatures and statistical analysis from IMIS of MDWS, GOI to provide critical aspects in the above-mentioned subject. It also throws light on an untouched dimension how low sanitation and low piped water supply coverage impacts stunting. Surveillance of bacteriological quality of water, sanitary survey of water sources and child specific interventions has been discussed in detail.

Dated: 27th September 2024

SIGMA Foundation has become a member of the National Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (NFSSM) Alliance.

The NFSSM Alliance was formed in 2016 and is dedicated to advancing inclusive and safe sanitation practices across India. The Alliance has become a key platform for collaboration, bringing together the expertise of over 35 diverse organisations across the country, including NGOs, CSOs, academic institutions, and think tanks. Through a collective effort, the Alliance drives innovation in urban sanitation planning, infrastructure development, service delivery, and climate resilience, ensuring safe, inclusive, and equitable sanitation outcomes for all.

Membership of the Alliance will provide an opportunity to SIGMA Foundation to serve the people better as well as to enhance its capacity in the field of urban sanitation, particularly faecal sludge and septage management and improving urban environment.

Dated: 5th September 2024

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a significant public health challenge in India, which accounts for nearly 27% of the global TB burden. According to the report, Kolkata’s slum areas, marked by overcrowding, poor living conditions, malnutrition, and limited access to healthcare, act as hotspots for the disease transmission. A comprehensive study has been conducted by SIGMA Foundation on the status of TB in Kolkata. 210 TB patients across eight chest clinics under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation were surveyed through a structured questionnaire. The findings of the study highlight key socio-economic, behavioural, and healthcare-related factors contributing to the spread of TB in Kolkata, which is likely to be true for other similar urban areas.

The report found that more women (60%) under 30 years were affected by TB compared to men (26%). However, the burden shifted to men (56%) after the age of 40 years. The economic toll of TB was evident, with 83% of respondents facing out-of-pocket expenses for treatment. Many experienced impoverishments, job loss, and food insecurity due to the indirect costs of the disease. A significant portion of the patients were unaware of how they contracted TB, with more women reporting exposure to infected family members. A good point is that, despite the financial challenges, over 90% of patients adhered to treatment protocols. The report identified smoking, alcohol use, malnutrition, and co-morbidities like diabetes as common risks for developing TB. Social stigma remains a major challenge, especially for men, with 23% of respondents avoiding disclosing their TB status due to fear of discrimination.

The report calls for a multi-pronged approach to curb the spread of TB in Kolkata. This includes addressing underlying socio-economic conditions, enhancing healthcare infrastructure, promoting awareness, and reducing the stigma associated with TB. With the right interventions, the burden of tuberculosis can be significantly reduced, improving health outcomes for affected populations. The study was funded by SIGMA Foundation and was carried out with the approval and support of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. The full report has been shared with them for possible interventions.

Dated: 2nd September 2024

SIGMA Foundation completed an assessment of Promotion of Land Literacy among the Scheduled Tribe Women SHG members connected with the LAMPS (Large-sized Multipurpose Cooperative Societies) in Jhargram and Bankura Districts. Tribal Development Department, Government of West Bengal, and Landesa Foundation for Innovations in Development (LFID), entered into a collaboration for sensitization and empowerment of female members of ST families connected with the Large-sized Multipurpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPS) in 2022-23. The initiative involved training and developing a resource pool of Master Trainers (MT) / District Level Trainers (DLT) identified by LAMPS, who will gradually take the key learnings to outreach the SHG members in a cascading mode of dissemination of content regarding women land rights. So far, the project has been implemented in a pilot form in two districts of West Bengal, i.e., Jhargram and Bankura. In the next phase, LFID plans to scale-up the initiative to Purulia and establish LAMPS Facilitation Centre (LFC) in Bankura and Jhargram districts. Against this backdrop, an assessment was planned with the primary objective to have a better understanding of the process and outcome of the land literacy programme before scaling up the programme.

The study followed a mixed methods approach, comprising both quantitative and qualitative components. The LAMPS were the primary sampling units. Quantitative data was collected from 40 WLL trained SHG members of the sample LAMPS were interviewed for collecting quantitative data. Qualitative data was collected by conducting 8 FGDs with the SHG members and from 8 other stakeholders through KII. 4 Cases were also documented to get good insight on the results of the programme. The primary survey was conducted in the last week of July 2024, by a team of 4 researchers of SIGMA Foundation. The quantitative data was analyzed using STATA software. On the other hand, the transcripts of qualitative data were prepared from field notes and recordings and were codified for thematic analysis. The report has been shared with the LFID team.

Dated: 20th August 2024

SIGMA Foundation has completed a Landscape study for Room to Read in 6 states of India- Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Telangana. The landscape study examined the gendered practices and perceptions in day-to-day activities in school with these research questions- (i) what are the implicit and explicit gender biases among teachers, (ii) what are the ways in which gendered behaviour and practices manifest in teachers (iii) what are children’s perceptions, experiences and responses of gender unequal practices, and (iv) actual gender unequal practices seen in the schools vis-à-vis children’s perceptions and experiences. 15 schools were selected across 4 districts of each of the selected states. Assessment in each school was done through feedback on various activities by the students and teachers and classroom observation by collecting qualitative data. A play-based activity was conducted with a group of students from classes 1 and 2 in each school. A total of 175 teachers were interviewed against a target of 30 teachers in each state, selecting 2 from each school, one head teacher and one assistant teacher. In this process, the researchers spent an entire day in each school to understand the gendered nature of practices and perceptions in the school. The study highlighted how gender segregation and stereotypes are reinforced in schools and also recommend ways how schools can help in imbibing more gender equal practices.