In rural India, progress often begins with access—access to water, to basic infrastructure, and to the dignity of safe sanitation. Larsen & Toubro’s Unnati Project, part of its Integrated Community Development Programme (ICDP), addresses these essentials through a structured, phased, and community-led approach.
While aligned with the goals of national missions like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Unnati is built on the principle that development begins with water. In regions affected by acute water scarcity, the program starts with watershed management. Once water security is achieved, it moves forward with sanitation, health, education, and livelihood interventions.
Community-Driven Sanitation at Scale
Unnati introduces sanitation initiatives from the second year of each four-year cycle. Implementation is rooted in direct community engagement—right from design consultations to construction, monitoring, and long-term upkeep.
Across 70 villages in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu, Unnati has helped address entrenched sanitation challenges:
· 4,456 toilets constructed through the program
· 2,719 toilets built independently by families inspired by the initiative
· 41 villages declared open defecation-free across across Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu
The model places strong emphasis on local ownership. Village youth are trained in masonry to support construction and maintenance, while women lead household-level change and decision-making. In Rajasthan, toilets carry the names of the women who championed their adoption—marking recognition and leadership at the grassroots.
In Coimbatore, Unnati has touched over 8,000 individuals in partnership with the National Agro Foundation. Beyond sanitation, the focus extends to water access, agricultural support, and capacity-building—ensuring integrated development at the community level.
Unnati is not a one-time intervention. It is a phased, people-first model of development that prioritises dignity, fosters community ownership, and enables sustainable outcomes.
To extend the reach of this initiative, L&T has collaborated with KK Create on a campaign that brings forward authentic community voices and real-life narratives. The communication underscores how access to sanitation directly advances dignity, health, and social progress.