Over the years, women’s involvement in both the formal and informal sectors of WASH has increased. Specifically, in sanitation and waste management, women’s participation has been notable. My insights into women’s lived experiences and perceptions in the sanitation and solid waste management sectors in Maharashtra were gathered through small research studies and training workshops related to the implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) in small and medium cities. I have observed that women’s engagement in these sectors is changing. It is crucial to evaluate whether this change aligns with the government’s intentions. At the household level, these responsibilities primarily fall to women members of the family, as they are directly linked to the family’s health, and she is often designated as the chief caregiver. Simultaneously, in the public sphere, women make significant contributions to sectors offering substantial services both permanent and temporary, in sanitation and waste management works. In both contexts, women are seen as integral and naturally connected to these sectors or municipal services. What is common is that women’s participation and contributions are regarded as secondary in both managing household chores or working in sanitation. They are not considered as ‘work’ but as an extension of her caregiving role and so elements of voluntarism and altruism are added to it. The SBM focuses on improving the status of women in society and on increasing women’s participation in this field qualitatively. The scheme document talks about not only generating employment opportunities in the form of job-employment (temporary and contractual basis) but also creating alternative livelihood opportunities in the form of starting a business, small start-up, entrepreneurial skill enhancement training, with the provision of supporting arrangements required for the same. Although this is remarkable, there are several limitations to how these schemes land on the ground. Women have not been part of the technical, skill development, economic, and overall management of these sectors/services in the past, nor have local governments taken any efforts or initiatives. My experience leads to the insight that there is a lack of understanding of the potential of women’s participation and contributions in these sectors. Water, sanitation and hygiene are public fields with potential for gender inclusivity, providing opportunities for self-growth and strengthening social status and dignity, building trust within the women’s community, as they are essential and equal contributors to the city’s development. The current level of understanding is, however, limited, generalised, and poorly thought out. This limited understanding within the system and the implementing agency limits the scope and quality of women’s engagement in the sector. Another important aspect is that there is significant potential for collectivising women and strengthening their agency and women as a community in the form of self-help groups, women’s organisations and so on. The sooner the local governments recognise this, the greater the priority that they give to the involvement of the women’s community at the local level, and they will be able to effect a change from worker or employee to service provider, manager, and decision-maker. It is important to leverage the potential of women’s agency in these sectors as a space for women’s self-growth and for their participation in local governance. In short, women’s inclusion in WASH should be recognised as essential and organic. Local self-government institutions must recognise that it is only their integral and equal contribution that can lead the sector forward. This article is written by Smita Waingankar, Development Practitioner and Researcher (Gendered Governance), Coordinator of Postgraduate Diploma Course in WASH, TISS, Mumbai [Published in NIWAS Vartika - Vol-I, Issue-3 (Oct-Dec'25): A WASH magazine by SPM NIWAS, MoJS, GoI]