Mapping Sanitation Gaps in India Sparks Global Framework for Change
Access to basic sanitation remains one of the most pressing public health and social challenges in the world. Now, ground-breaking research from Australia has shed light on how these gaps play directly into community safety and cohesion.
Namrata Nair, a PhD candidate at the University of South Australia (UniSA), has been recognised for her powerful work that uncovers how sanitation access in India affects both dignity and crime rates. Her study, which analysed data from more than 600 districts, not only earned her the 2025 UniSA Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Grand Final title but also provided a scalable framework for policymakers.
The Stark Reality of Sanitation Access
Nair’s research paints a sobering picture. In one-third of the districts studied, over half of the population still does not have access to an indoor toilet. This statistic alone underscores how uneven the progress of sanitation programmes has been, despite initiatives like India’s Swachh Bharat Mission launched in 2014. While official reports highlight over 100 million toilets built under the scheme, district-level disparities remain entrenched.
Nair explained her findings clearly: “When something as basic as a toilet is out of reach, it creates deep feelings of deprivation and resentment. And when people feel left behind, it threatens the safety and cohesion of society.”
She went further to show how poor sanitation correlated strongly with higher crime rates, a link rarely explored at this scale before. The implications are significant: sanitation policy isn’t just about health and hygiene, it is directly tied to law, order, and community well-being.
Localised Action Through District Mapping
What sets Nair’s work apart is the granular approach. Rather than broad national averages, she produced district-level maps that pinpoint precisely where access is weakest. This detail equips governments with the ability to deploy resources in a more targeted way, addressing the areas most at risk.
Nair put it succinctly: “I identified precisely where access is weakest in India and what needs to change. With district level mapping, the government can now take more localised action and also effectively implement community sanitation programs.”
This method could also be replicated in other countries facing similar challenges, offering a new global model for sanitation intervention. From rural sub-Saharan Africa to dense megacities in Southeast Asia, the ability to map deprivation and link it to safety could transform how aid and infrastructure programmes are rolled out.
Academic Excellence and Recognition
Professor Sandra Orgeig, UniSA Dean of Graduate Studies, praised Nair’s contribution: “The UniSA 3MT Grand Final highlights how our PhD students communicate ambitious ideas with clarity, impact and engagement. Namrata’s work offers governments practical tools to improve dignity and build safer, fairer societies. This year’s finalists were especially strong across diverse fields – well done to all.”
Nair will now go on to represent UniSA at the Asia Pacific 3MT Final hosted by the University of Queensland, competing against other top researchers across the region.
Other Groundbreaking Research in the Spotlight
The Grand Final also highlighted other remarkable projects. Runner-up Anita Kral presented new insights into how mould exposure affects asthma development. Using lab-grown lung tissue, Kral demonstrated that a single mould exposure can rewire lung stem cells, making them produce asthma-inducing signals that persist long after the exposure.
She explained: “I found that mould exposure rewired lung stem cells to produce signals that induced asthma. We’re now investigating how this action might be blocked, starting with existing signalling inhibitors.” This line of research could eventually inform therapies that prevent long-term respiratory diseases.
Meanwhile, the People’s Choice Award went to Cheryl Chan, who is pushing the boundaries of space technology with her satellite research. Her work focuses on creating compact, high-performance imaging systems using free-form optics rather than traditional round lenses. The design, she noted, is less like a bowl and more like a wave or a Pringle, allowing light to be bent and compressed in radical new ways.
Chan explained: “These are complex, irregular surface shapes. The complex surface shapes allow us to bend, fold and compress light paths into radically compact ways, which means fewer components, lighter systems and smaller satellites.”
Her team is also experimenting with advanced 3D printing techniques to cut costs while maintaining precision, particularly for infrared applications. The result could be a new generation of satellites that are cheaper, lighter, and capable of unprecedented detail, opening doors for monitoring plant growth, volcanic activity, and even urban development.
The Broader Impact of 3MT®
The Three Minute Thesis competition, founded at the University of Queensland, has become a global platform for showcasing PhD research. Its format is deceptively simple: one slide, three minutes, and no jargon. Yet it pushes candidates to distil years of complex work into a story that resonates with both academic and public audiences.
The 2025 UniSA Grand Final was presented by The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre and the Office for the Dean of Graduate Studies, supported by UniSA Academic Units. A video of the event will soon be available on The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre’s website.
By encouraging clarity, storytelling, and impact, the competition ensures that world-class research doesn’t remain hidden in academic journals but enters the public domain where it can inspire action.
Building Fairer Futures
What makes this year’s winning research so powerful is its potential beyond academia. By connecting sanitation gaps to crime rates and offering district-level mapping as a practical solution, Namrata Nair has opened a new chapter in public health and social policy. Governments and NGOs can use her framework to allocate resources more effectively, foster safer communities, and, ultimately, improve quality of life.
Her work reminds policymakers and industry leaders alike that infrastructure is not just about bricks and mortar, but about dignity, fairness, and safety.
