The United Nations has announced 2008 as the Year of Sanitation. This is at a time when at least 2.6 billion people - 41 per cent of the global population - do not have access to latrines or any sort of basic sanitation facilities. Sanjay Krishna, a volunteer, NGO Dhan Foundation, said that while working for conservation of water, he had been to many places where people used contaminated water for drinking and cooking purposes. This includes contamination of natural bodies and drinking water supply through rusted and old drain pipes, he noted. Last year's World Water Day marked the launch of a new decade of action on water for life, with the UN engaged in implementation of water-related programmes through women's participation