This manual is developed to address the persistent challenges of unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices that continue to severely impact marginalized communities. Despite years of hard work and inputs, the progress towards safe WASH behaviour and services remains limited, especially in remote and underserved areas. Less than half of India’s population has access to safely managed drinking water, a situation worsened by climate extremes and environmental degradation. The absence of basic amenities like toilets, safe water, and hand hygiene undermines health, productivity, education, and overall quality of life, disproportionately affecting the poor and vulnerable. These are not merely public health concerns but issues deeply connected to social development, economic stability, and gender equity.

This manual has been created by S M Sehgal Foundation (India) with support from CAWST (Canada) to enhance community-level capacity to sensitize and raise awareness on WASH issues among the vulnerable communities. It is intended as a comprehensive guide for training of trainers (ToT), empowering grassroots facilitators, field workers, and community mobilizers to deliver engaging, effective training sessions that foster the adoption of safe WASH practices. The content is simplified into manageable, easy-to-understand segments, with training sessions designed to last no more than an hour. These sessions can be spaced out every 7 to 15 days to accommodate community schedules and optimize participation. Emphasizing a participatory and learner-centered approach, the manual shifts from traditional lecture-based methods. Instead, it promotes hands-on activities, group discussions, problem-solving, and interactive questioning to engage learners actively. Assignments and follow-ups between sessions ensure that knowledge is reinforced and applied, paving the way for lasting behavior change. The manual is grounded in the understanding that safe WASH practices are vital for ensuring health, dignity, and sustainable development.

Unsafe drinking water and inadequate sanitation are directly linked to recurring illness and economic strain. A key focus of this guide is bridging the awareness gap by introducing simple, affordable technologies for household water treatment and handwashing. Beyond infrastructure, the manual underscores the importance of behaviour change. Even when facilities are available, their correct, consistent and continuous use depends on awareness, community motivation, and a sense of ownership. The training sessions are designed to help community members recognize everyday health risks, understand the benefits of improved WASH practices, and take actionable steps to shift entrenched behaviors. Gender inclusion is a core element of the manual caring the disproportionate challenges faced by women and girls, who often bear the burden of waterborne diseases caused by inadequate WASH facilities and behaviour, and WASH responsibilities. Manual is developed keeping in mind the potential of involving women as key change-makers within their households and communities to advancing gender equality and reducing women’s daily burdens. More than just a training manual, this guidebook is a catalyst for transformation. It aims to empower individuals and communities to make informed decisions, adopt appropriate technologies, and embrace sustainable practices that improve lives. By nurturing informed WASH behaviours and promoting community-led solutions, it offers a practical pathway toward a future where everyone regardless of geography or economic status can enjoy the outcomes of adopting safe water, sanitation, and hygiene behaviour.