Safe and reliable water supplies and environmental sanitation services are vital for people’s dignity and health, and are especially important in ensuring the healthy development of children. In India, some 40 million children are taken ill every year by water and sanitation related diseases. Many a times such illnesses results in child deaths. Further, the lack of access to water means that children, in particular young and adolescent girls spend their time fetching water rather than attending school. Therefore, Plan prioritizes its work on: