Paper short abstract:

The paper investigates sanitary realities of peri-urban settlers in Chennai in light of the SDGs' mantra of 'leaving no one behind'. The qualitative study assesses settlers' capabilities in the context of different settlements and concludes that nudges should extend from dwellers to administration.

Paper long abstract:

In line with the mantra of the Sustainable Development Goals, that no one should be left behind, this research employs a methodology that targets marginalised peri-urban dwellers in the Chennai Metropolitan Area and assesses their sanitary realities. The urgency of a comprehensive, larger urban policy for elimination of open defecation and insanitary behaviour originates in the risk to human security such practices pose.

In order for a city to become environmentally sustainable and safe to its citizens, these threats should be eliminated. Traditionally the issue of sanitation has been approached with the focus on construction of toilets to provide the 'hardware', yet such provision may not account for the fluctuating numbers and perceptions of migrant labourers as well as the resident poor. To measure up to a multitude of realities, the capability approach offers a framework for analysis, also as behavioural doings are not necessarily a consequence of freedoms, yet they are restrained by the lack of choice which in turn leads to reduced levels of well-being. This paper draws on the findings of the qualitative exploratory research conducted at ten locations ranging from the city centre to the peri-urban outskirts of Chennai, to highlight and compare (un)freedoms of settlers in their toilet practices. The findings show that 'nudges' may not only be useful for behavioural guidance of the population at a certain location, but also to direct the local administration.