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India: How one woman brought better sanitation to thousands

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Sahiba Khan | Ab Rauoof Ganie in New Delhi
August 12, 2025

At a resettlement colony on the outskirts of New Delhi, a community leader mobilized women in the area to build toilets and join sanitation efforts to make their living space cleaner.

In the shadow of New Delhi's rapid urban expansion, thousands were displaced to the city's outskirts. In Savda Ghevra Resettlement Colony, one woman sparked a sanitation revolution. Faced with locked toilets, unsafe conditions, and health risks, Zarina mobilized her community to build over 1,500 household toilets. With support from a local NGO, her grassroots efforts are reshaping hygiene and dignity for thousands. But the fight isn't over: Without a proper sewer system, clean water still has nowhere to go.

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