Drinking water, sanitation facilities and hygiene in Sikkim: findings from NFHS-5 data

The UN General Assembly has recognized access to improved drinking water and sanitation as a fundamental right. Despite this, a significant portion of the global population lacked access to safely managed drinking water (around 25%) and improved sanitation (around 50%) in 2020. India, the second most populous country, has approximately 3.7% of its population without access to improved drinking water and 31% without access to improved sanitation. This article examines factors influencing household access to improved drinking water and sanitation in Sikkim, India, using National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 5 data. The findings reveal that urban, unmarried, female-headed households in higher wealth quintiles residing in the North district were more likely to have access to improved drinking water. Unmarried female-headed households in higher wealth quintiles having at least primary education, living in joint families, belonging to scheduled castes, owning agricultural land and living in North district were more likely to have access to improved sanitation facilities. The study suggests subsidizing the cost of improved water and sanitation services for poor rural households and increasing public investment to make these facilities more affordable for them