It has a burgeoning crisis of untreated faecal waste that is contaminating surfaces and groundwater and is creating an imminent health crisis. GEAG considers rural sanitation as a total package consisting of safe handling of drinking water, disposal of wastewater through proper drains, safe disposal of human excreta, solid waste management, personal hygiene, handwashing and overall village sanitation in catalysing holistic development.

GEAG works in different agro-ecological contexts in Uttar Pradesh. We have implemented several initiatives in rural and peri-urban areas of Uttar Pradesh through community participation including:

construction of conventional and raised toilets in flood-prone villages, drainage improvement, construction of raised hand pumps in flood- prone villages to provide safe drinking water, construction of Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems (DEWATS), awareness campaigns through street plays, posters, films, etc. on use of toilets and related health benefits, health and hygiene, especially for women, children and adolescents. GEAG has been involved in developing City Resilience Strategies for different cities in India including Gorakhpur, Jorhat, Basirhat and Saharsa where sanitation is included as an important component in holistic resilience-building.