As I began working on the WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) project during my Fellowship with Dakshin Foundation, one of my main goals was to understand the WASH situation in all our health intervention villages. After spending months in the field and gaining a deeper understanding of the context in these villages, I realized I had a gap in understanding how they manage WASH in their workspaces. I needed to learn about the infrastructure and facilities available, and in their absence, how they navigate these challenges and the impact it has on them. To bridge this gap, Senior Fellow Vardhna Puri suggested an innovative idea: conducting a visualization exercise in the most common workspaces I could identify. The plan was to start with one village and then proceed to the others.
This activity was carried out in the village of Podampeta, in Ganjam, Odisha. Here, most men are involved in sea fishing, while the women prepare dried fish, leading to both working in the same space—the Podampeta beach. I went there with the assistance of Ch. Pratima, one of the field staff from the same village. She was instrumental in helping me connect with the people and overcoming the language barrier. We conducted the activity over three days, engaging primarily with three groups of women and two groups of men. Each group had an average of at least three members, though the compositions varied.
We began the exercise by introducing ourselves, explaining our intentions, and asking a few rapport-building questions. Then we started discussing the available facilities, their experiences working in that space, the major challenges they faced, and the impact these had on their work. We found that most people didn’t know what to share when asked specifically about WASH, so we kept the conversation broader. Additionally, since Dakshin Foundation works on various fronts, this information can be used widely for planning future interventions.
As the discussions progressed, they described each facility, and I sketched them out to show them visually. I continuously sought their feedback on whether the sketches matched their expectations for specific areas of the beach. They would point out with their fingers where they wanted each feature to be, sometimes prompting me to rearrange my original drawings. I also probed them about the number of facilities needed, preferred placement locations, and orientations, which made them feel more involved in the process. Gradually, these conversations strengthened.
After covering the most important facilities, they expressed that they would share more details once they saw these facilities being constructed. They acknowledged our position of not making promises about constructing these facilities but emphasised that without even basic amenities, it was challenging for them to envision higher-level facilities. Their priority was to have their basic needs met first. They invited us to return once initial improvements were made, promising more insights at that time.
We discovered that each group mentioned common requirements with similar reasoning behind them. Some of these were:
1. Washrooms: All groups requested the construction of washrooms. The women mentioned that they usually come to work early in the morning between 6 to 8 am and leave late in the evening, sometimes even later at night depending on the workload and the return of fishing boats. They stay on the beach the whole day, and there isn’t even a skeletal washroom infrastructure. They have to use the nearby bushes, which is challenging during peak hours when the beach is crowded and there is more movement of people, especially during the return of the fishing boats. Moreover, the bushes are not as thick as the forests they use for open defecation in the morning in their village. In the villages, there are segregated areas for women and men based on social understanding, but here there is a risk that understanding might be breached. Additionally, they had to leave their belongings and work to move to the other, less secluded side of the beach, which is not very convenient. As the discussions with each group progressed, they requested that multiple washrooms with separate facilities for men and women be constructed. The conversation also led to them thinking about future logistics and discussing amongst themselves how to maintain these washrooms, coming up with a system to keep them clean and determining who would be responsible.
2. Handpumps: They shared that there was no provision for freshwater on the beaches. They usually carry drinking water from home and some extra for washroom usage. However, they don’t have water to freshen up, wash utensils, or clean their hands before and after eating lunch. In such instances, they use stagnant water found in certain pockets of the beach, though many reported skin itching and other health concerns after using it. They mentioned that there was one handpump, but its water turned salty some time ago and is no longer commonly used. The issue is significant because the location is a coastal area with very high humidity, making it very difficult to work without access to fresh water.
3. Rest Rooms: They expressed a strong need for a place to rest as they stay on the beach throughout the day and sometimes until late evening or night. Currently, they rest directly on the sand during breaks between work or sit on the sand during lunch hours. This need is particularly felt during the summer when temperatures soar and the sand becomes unbearably hot. Most of the women were above the age of 40 who were working on the beach or in preparing dry fish. They suggested an open structure with a roof, pillars, and a concrete floor, similar to bus stands. They mentioned that even if there are no benches or chairs, a concrete shade would be immensely helpful.
4. Dustbins: They highlighted how the beaches have become increasingly dirty over the years, which impedes their ability to lay out fish to dry. There is plastic waste scattered everywhere, including bottles, alcohol pouch packets, plastic bags, along with other debris like sandals and clothes. They discussed the provision of installation of dustbins every few metres along the beach. In subsequent discussions, they raised concerns that fishermen might remove the dustbins during peak hours for other purposes, so they preferred fixed dustbins. Additionally, they expressed a preference for lightweight, movable dustbins made of cane specifically for their dry fish activities. They also mentioned that a cleaner beach would enhance its appeal to tourists, similar to beaches like Gopalpur Beach, and potentially provide opportunities for alternative sources of income.
5. Platforms: The most unanimous demand from all the groups was for platforms to dry fish. They emphasised that drying fish on the soil and uneven surfaces adversely affects the quality, which in turn affects the selling price at the market and directly impacts their economic opportunities. They pointed out that many other beaches have at least one platform for this purpose. They expressed how having these platforms would significantly improve their work experience and make a substantial difference to their overall experience of the space. They indicated that if they could have one facility changed in their environment, this would be it.
There were additional requests from each group, starting with street lights. They expressed concerns about safety since they sometimes stay on the beach late at night without any lighting. They also felt that having street lights would enable them to work longer hours comfortably. Another group requested a room to store fish during the summer to prevent spoilage from extreme heat. They preferred it to be placed conveniently near the pavements.
In discussions with the third group, there was indecision about whether they wanted a closed space for washing or a well-constructed structure with fresh water for cleaning purposes. Ultimately, they suggested including both options in my sketches.
During conversations with the men, similar requests were made, including washrooms, rest areas, and improvements to the landing site. They also highlighted the urgent need for storage areas for nets, as exposure to the elements quickly deteriorates their quality. However, they recognized the greater challenges faced by the women working nearby and emphasised prioritising the construction of basic facilities for them.
This exercise highlighted the importance of not only focusing on WASH facilities in villages but also addressing the spaces where people spend the majority of their time. The behavior of seeking WASH facilities is consistent across different environments, and implementing interventions in all these areas will encourage more conscious and consistent use over the long term.
