(a) the number and percentage of rural households deprived of sanitation and clean drinking water facilities at present, State-wise;
(b) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in collaboration with the State Governments for providing these basic facilities to the people of the country;
(c) whether any timeframe has been fixed for making the said basic facilities available to the entire population of the country; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION
(SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)
(a) State/UT-wise, number and percentage of households without toilets as on 3.4.2017 as per Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) is at Annexure-1.
In respect of Water, this Ministry maintains information in terms of habitations instead of household. As per data entered by State Governments on Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of this Ministry, as on 02.04.2017, state-wise number and percentage of rural habitations deprived of clean drinking water facilities i.e. contaminated with at least one chemical contaminant is at Annexure-2.
(b) The Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) (SBM(G)) has been launched on 2nd October, 2014, which aims at attaining Swachh Bharat by 2nd October 2019. The focus of the scheme is on behavior change and usage of toilets. Under Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), there is a provision of an incentive of Rs. 12,000 for the construction of Individual household latrine (IHHL) to all Below Poverty Line (BPL) households and to identified Above Poverty Line (APL) households (all SCs /STs, small and marginal farmers, landless labourers with homestead, physically handicapped and women-headed households). Under SBM(G), the following steps have been taken :-
• Focus on behavior change: Community based collective behavior change has been mentioned as the preferred approach. Focus is also on creation of complete open defecation free (ODF) villages.
• The programme provides flexibility to the States in the implementation. This is essential, given the vast socio-economic-cultural diversity of India.
• There is a greater emphasis on capacity building, especially in community approaches and programme management. More than 530 Collectors from across the country have been trained. In order to provide exposure to officers at their entry level itself, a training module has been developed for LBSNAA, Mussoorie. The IAS and other Group A probationers are being given training for better implementation of SBM(G), including ‘triggering’ behavior change in communities.
• The programme is being run as a janandolan with cooperation of all sections of the society including the NGOs, Corporates, youth etc. The Panchayats are being actively involved.
• There is an emphasis on streamlining administrative and financial procedures, both to cut down on time, as well as to increase accountability.
• Innovations in technology is being promoted at the National and State levels. There is a National Committee under Prof. R.A.Mashelkar that examines all new technologies from the point of view of safety and feasibility.
• Sanitation is being prioritized amongst the overall development agenda. The Government has taken a decision to prioritise all Centrally Sponsored Schemes in ODF villages.
• Monitoring and Evaluation has also been strengthened. The IMIS has data up to household level, with provision to capture geo-tagged photographs of toilets. A Swachhta App has been developed that provides online information on sanitation status up to household level.
This Ministry has prepared a Strategic Plan for the rural drinking water sector for the period 2011-2022, which stresses on extending the piped water supply to more households in the rural areas. This Ministry has taken following steps to ensure the availability of safe drinking water to all in rural areas of the country:
i. All states can utilize up to 67% of total National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) fund to provide safe drinking water in rural areas.
ii. 5% of NRDWP fund has been earmarked for water quality to ensure the availability of safe drinking water.
iii. In 2016-17, Rs. 814.13 crore has been released under National Water Quality Sub-mission programme for various ongoing schemes covering Arsenic and Fluoride affected habitations.
iv. In March 2016, NITI Aayog has provided Rs. 1000 crore to various states for immediate solutions in Arsenic and Fluoride affected habitations like installation of community water purification plants to ensure at least 8 to 10 litres of drinking water or for last mile connectivity in these areas.
v. States have been allowed to take up new scheme in arsenic and fluoride affected areas.
vi. States have been advised to take up surface water based projects with external aid from agencies like World Bank, Asian Development Bank(ADB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) etc. and through internal borrowings.
(c) and (d) Target is to provide toilets to all households by 2nd October, 2019. By 2022, the goal of this Ministry is to cover 90% of rural households with piped water supply.