Flushing Out the Problem: Toilet Adoption and Sanitation Challenges in Rural India
Adrito Bandyopadhyay, etc.
Greengates School Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
Publication date: November 20, 2025
Greengates School Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
Publication date: November 20, 2025
DOI: http://doi.org/10.34614/JIYRC2025II07
ABSTRACT
Sanitation is a very important issue in India. Approximately 52.1% of the population lacks access to proper sanitation facilities. This causes many health concerns like widespread diarrhea, hampered child growth, and economic harms, which account for 6.4% of India’s GDP. My research looks at data from 120 villages in Latur and Nanded districts in Maharashtra, India. Regression analysis was used to investigate which factors influence household toilet uptake the most. The results show that villages with open-defecation-free status (ODF) have higher toilet uptake results than ones that don’t. Furthermore, the results showed that men’s daily wages help increase toilet uptake and so does having healthcare facilities. Government programs incentivize villages to reach ODF status also help increase uptake. Therefore, increasing rural wages and implementing government programs will help increase toilet uptake. However, having data from more than 2 districts would make results more valuable.
Sanitation is a very important issue in India. Approximately 52.1% of the population lacks access to proper sanitation facilities. This causes many health concerns like widespread diarrhea, hampered child growth, and economic harms, which account for 6.4% of India’s GDP. My research looks at data from 120 villages in Latur and Nanded districts in Maharashtra, India. Regression analysis was used to investigate which factors influence household toilet uptake the most. The results show that villages with open-defecation-free status (ODF) have higher toilet uptake results than ones that don’t. Furthermore, the results showed that men’s daily wages help increase toilet uptake and so does having healthcare facilities. Government programs incentivize villages to reach ODF status also help increase uptake. Therefore, increasing rural wages and implementing government programs will help increase toilet uptake. However, having data from more than 2 districts would make results more valuable.
