This is a joint publication of UN-HABITAT and the Directorate of Urban Administration & Development, Government of Madhya Pradesh and analyses status of community toilet in terms of its infrastructure, operation and maintenance, uses and payment of user charges. The paper also discusses examples where community toilets are well maintained and the users are paying for charges and examined the possibility of involving user /community groups and enhancement of their capacity for handing over operation and management. The chances of success of these groups are more when women are actively involved. Therefore, it recommends a system based on empowerment of users, owning, operation & maintenance and collection of service charges by user groups seems to be a sustainable solution for rehabilitation of defunct community toilets and also for the construction of new ones.