Around 560 million people, which are 44 per cent of the total population in India, still defecate in the open and around 23 billion of them do not have basic sanitation facilities. According to the census of 2011, 53.1% (63.6% in 2001) of the households in India do not have a toilet, with the percentage being as high as 69.3% (78.1% in 2001) in rural areas and 18.6% (26.3% in 2001) in urban areas. Furthermore, field studies indicate that even the use of the existing toilets in both rural and urban areas is very low. Most Indians depend on on-site sanitation facilities which mean mainly pit latrines in rural areas.

The lack of adequate sanitation and safe water has significant negative health impacts including diarrhea,experienced by about 10 million visitors annually. AJMAL FOUNDATION focuses on access to sanitation in the rural areas. Its approach recognizes stopping open defecation an immediate and urgent community-wide action. We also realize that the use of toilet (at household, school, institutions, and public places), and hygiene behaviour change are essential to make a substantial and sustainable impact on public health. Till date, AJMAL FOUNDATION has constructed 473 toilet blocks in and around Assam. The purpose or thought behind the program is to provide proper sanitation facilities in public places like schools, colleges, places of worship, market places and so on. It is often seen that such places lack even the bare minimum facilities needed, the main reason being unavailability of funds. Womenfolk are the main sufferers of lack of proper sanitation facilities as many a times their modesty is at risk of being outraged due to having to relieve themselves in the open. Under this project, AJMAL FOUNDAION has been taking initiativeson constructing sanitation facilities for both men and women in public places for the convenience of the people.

Importance of tree plantation has been stressed upon time and again.Globally, forest cover is at least one-third less than what it once was and global deforestation continues at around 13 million hectares per year. Global warming is another burning issue and it is the result of excess greenhouse gases, created by burning fossil fuels and destroying tropical rainforests. Therefore social forestry should be undertaken on a large scale in rural landscape as well as urban milieu. AJMAL FOUNDATION’s Tree Plantation Drive is a response to the substantial climate change and sustainability challenges, like water supply and biodiversity loss. It strongly encourages the planting of indigenous trees and plants that are appropriate to the local environment.

Through the tree plantation drives, AJMAL FOUNDATION stresses on raising consciousness towards importance of biodiversity for our well-being. The various educational institutes under AJMAL FOUNDATION like schools and colleges have been spreading awareness for this cause. Visual documentaries are shown on projectors about the causes and ill effects of global warming and climate change. Procedures of digging pit holes to plant trees are also explained. The Tree Plantation Drive has inspired thousands associated with it, into a community of passionate tree planters and lovers who work towards preventing loss of green cover and promoting afforestation.