ABSTRACT

Infrastructure and environmental health services (IEHS) directly and indirectly contribute to income and employment. Productive activities are not possible without basic IEHS such as water, sanitation and drainage; and absence of IEHS has adverse impacts on both human health and the environment. There are various types of IEHS and their relative importance varies according to the context in which they are provided and the livelihood goals targeted. For example, irrigation systems, drainage and all-weather roads may be important in a rural setting where the livelihood goal is agricultural production and marketing. In the urban context, the residential and work environment and health may be more important to sustaining a means of living. Consequently, water, sanitation, drainage and solid-waste management become a higher priority. Box 11.1 highlights the importance of these services, each of which is strongly linked with income, employment, health and the local environment of the urban poor.