PurposeThe present study intends to highlight the issues and challenges pertinent to sanitation practices among urban slum women in India.Design/methodology/approachThe primary qualitative data has been collected from 100 households sampled by stratified random and purposive sampling through in-depth interviews, and a structured interview schedule and themes were developed accordingly.FindingsThe main theme-based results of the study included the challenges of open defecation in slums, public toilets as an alternative, sanitation-related stress in slum women, compromised state of health of women and children, menstrual hygiene among women in slums and increasing burden on women in terms of water management. The study recommends the creation of toilets in every slum locality with maintenance and awareness to be raised.Originality/valueUrban sanitation has received less research than rural sanitation. The present study focused on the issues of urban sanitation, which are often neglected. To ensure the study's uniqueness, researchers visited and mentioned each open defecation site to understand the situation.Peer reviewThe peer-review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-12-2022-0782

Proliferation of education has led to transformations of life and economy at different level. But, in India neither the education nor the other associated values and achievements have brought significant changes in the life of many women except a few whom we see today in the age of media and communication as a source of inspiration. They are holding prominent positions in different domains of life, Nevertheless, though the education has become so common but opportunities and environment to get education are still not accessible to a large number of women in our society. It is on their capabilities and caliber that this paper intends to shed some light. The present study deals with the women from urban slums of Aligarh who are self- employed workers in the unorganized sector with irregular nature of employment accompanied by inadequate incomes. These women use their inbuilt talents to deal with the raw- materials and inbuilt skills to stitch, weave, embroider, knit and create. In the process of providing self-employment to their own selves they form backbone to the informal sector of the economy. The study tries to identify the various challenges they face. Study through qualitative findings tries to capture the ways and means by which they can expand their works and convert it into micro and small enterprise.