The first thought when we think of women and inclusion in WASH is a focus on women and girls’ drudgery, getting overburdened, doing unpaid work by constraining the time for productive, educational or leisure activities, which is true. But the problem is, for ages, we are conditioned to imagine that way, and we rarely focus on the redistribution of responsibilities, the role of men and boys in attaining successful WASH practices or women exercising their rights to a dignified life. This burden is not a sole responsibility of women, as for the majority of women, such work feels like additional work (getting additional responsibility along with household chores and child care). This unpaid and time-intensive labour affects women’s health, economic participation, and social mobility. When a seven-year-old can map water sources and seasonal scarcity but cannot attend school, it is clear that water insecurity steals more than time; it steals childhood! Seeing a girl, her mother, and her grandmother walk long distances to fetch water is not tradition; it is a failure of WASH that passes drudgery from one generation to the next. A community toilet constructed to eliminate open defecation in a habitation that faces drinking water shortages for an average of 15 days each month remains non-functional because no one bothered to listen to the local women. On the other hand, a water source in a marginalised Scheduled Caste habitation has remained functional for years because local women collectively manage its operation, maintenance, and cleanliness. Somewhere, we also see women collectively claiming spaces of participation by marching to government institutions to assert their right for dignified life. These experiences show why reducing women’s burden and recognising their role in planning, managing and decision-making is essential for sustainable WASH. Women and girls are the primary users of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services and possess deep, practical knowledge of how these systems function in everyday life. Yet, social norms and institutional structures often structurally marginalise women. At the same time, most paid roles in the WASH sector, particularly within government departments and service providers, and NGOs, are held by men. A World Bank study covering 64 water and sanitation utilities across 28 countries found that, on average, only 18 per cent of the workforce were women (World Bank, 2019). While governments, NGOs, and private actors increasingly acknowledge the importance of WASH for women, many interventions still focus primarily on providing access rather than reducing women’s workload or redistributing responsibilities. This would improve health, expand education and livelihood opportunities, and support broader economic development. However, lasting change requires not only reducing unpaid WASH-related work but also sharing this responsibility more equitably. Women’s involvement in water and sanitation committees is essential for the long-term sustainability of water sources and the distribution systems. Despite clear mandates requiring Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) to include at least 50 per cent women, this provision is frequently overlooked, with little effort by authorities to ensure compliance. In my practice, I have seen how water committees often include only one or two women, giving excuses that women do not come forward despite being informed. This gap reflects deeper institutional biases, limited gender awareness and a lack of willingness to put more efforts to mobilise marginalised communities. To achieve effective WASH outcomes, organisations and project teams must build their capacity on gender equality and address discriminatory norms. Moving forward, WASH interventions need to go beyond building infrastructure and focus on people-centred governance. This means planning services that respond to gender and inclusion concerns, strengthening the leadership and decision-making capacities of women, and formally recognising the voices of marginalised communities. For that, it has to ensure that the spaces of participation are inviting to these historically marginalised communities. Inclusive WASH is not just about equity; it is essential for protecting public health, ensuring long-term sustainability of services, and upholding everyone’s right to live with dignity. Achieving gender equality in WASH, therefore, demands the active engagement of men and boys as partners for change. Challenging harmful norms, building institutional capacity, and addressing biases within organisations are equally essential. At the same time, inclusion must extend beyond binary gender identities to ensure that all people can access safe, dignified WASH services without discrimination. This article is written by Namrata Godambe, Master’s degree in Water Policy and Governance from TISS, Mumbai; Water Conservation Project Associate (Consultant), MARICO Panishala CSR Project, Maharashtra. [Published in NIWAS Vartika - Vol-I, Issue-3 (Oct-Dec'25): A WASH magazine by SPM NIWAS, MoJS, GoI]