To explore the best practices available to overcome financial constraints, which communities usually face. By investigating the kinds of innovative ways by which communities have addressed financial hardships. Focus of the study is on how the money is mobilised or borrowed. Who is mobilising the required finances or borrowing money, who are the ‘agents’ or ‘allies’ facilitating to arrange the money, who is providing money, etc. New ways and innovative ideas for minimizing costs emerging from ground realities were examined in this research. Mapping of practical solutions to the challenges of financial constraints through this research, offers innovative options for communities that have not been able to achieve ODF status due to financial problems, can now explore local alternatives and ‘menus of options’ to fund their toilets and CSLs.

 Nine villages from 5 districts of Andhra Pradesh were selected covering both places nearer to the capital city and extreme ends of the state, and the districts achieving ODF target from 8.22% to 90.51%.

Study includes field visits for information from the people who brought change, beneficiaries, Sarpanchs and officials (State, district, mandal and village level)