Reading the data
Count the toilets. Then ask what the count means.
A note on reading sanitation numbers without confusing a listing, a completed building and a usable stop.
Edited 16 Oct 2026 · Sources & inspiration ↓
A large number is easy to put in a headline. It is harder to explain what sits behind it.
For a washroom map, that explanation matters. The number of places listed, the number of reports submitted and the number checked recently describe different things. They should not be used interchangeably.
Read the label before the number
Before sharing a sanitation statistic, look for the publisher, reporting period, geography and definition. Does it count buildings, seats, households or public facilities? Is it a programme total or a sample survey?
MoHUA’s advisory distinguishes public toilets from community toilets. Even a familiar label can describe a different service or group of users.[1]
A listing is not a recent inspection
On Lavvi, treat a map listing as a starting point. Look for the date and content of community reports before drawing a conclusion about current conditions.
The absence of a report is not proof that a facility is unusable. A good report from the past is not proof that nothing has changed. Both limits belong beside the information.
Make room for corrections
A duplicated marker, an outdated name or an entrance in the wrong place can make a map harder to use. Corrections are part of maintaining it.
This note is about how to read and contribute data. It is not a national inspection of India’s public toilets, and it does not present a new 2026 survey.
The reading behind this letter
Sources & inspiration
Original Lavvi commentary on interpreting listings and statistics. The linked publication supplies background definitions.
- CPHEEO / Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, with GIZ India · 2018Advisory on Public and Community Toilets
Background on maintenance, financing and user feedback. Original government publication, hosted by SuSanA.
Spotted something we should correct? Write to Lavvi.