Shabnam, formerly a teacher, is our Community Correspondent from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Being denied a much-deserved scholarship for completing matriculation with first division just because she came from a Muslim family did not stop Shabnam from pursuing higher education. Now the first graduate in her family, Shabnam believes that she has fulfilled her father’s dreams. Threatened by her progressive educational background,…

Shabnam Begum

17th March | Sundarpur Village, Varanasi District, Uttar Pradesh | Shabnam Begum

400 people from the slums in Sundarpur village are forced to defecate in the open though many have toilets in their houses. In 2013 many of these houses were constructed under the Kanshi Ram Rural Poor Housing Scheme. The scheme made compulsory the construction of toilets as well as sewer lines. As often is the case with schemes in India, the job was half done. With no sewage lines, the construction of toilets was an exercise in futility.

The community has tried several times to highlight their problems, they have taken to the roads in protest and written applications-- the results remain elusive. You can help them now.

Call to Action: Call the District Magistrate of Varanasi on +91 9454417579 and ask him to ensure that toilets and sewers are built in all houses in Nat Basti.