Question : DRINKING WATER FOR RURAL SCHOOLS

(a) whether the ongoing National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) aims at providing safe drinking water to all the rural schools in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof including its funding pattern;

(c) the funds provided by the Government for the purpose and the number of schools which have been covered under the programme, State/UT-wise;

(d) whether some States including Rajasthan have requested the Government to provide assistance for setting up of tubewells especially for girls educational institutions under NRDWP and if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon; and

(e) whether some public representatives including Members of Parliament have made such requests to the Ministry and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION (SHRI BHARATSINH SOLANKI)

(a) to (e) A Statement of reply is laid on the table of the House.

Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 333 due for reply on 13/2/2014

(a) & (b) Yes Madam. Under the centrally sponsored National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), provides priority for coverage of all rural schools in the country with safe drinking water. Under NRDWP, upto 67% of funds allocated/ released to the States could be utilized for coverage of habitations (including water –quality affected habitations) with safe drinking water in adequate quantity. Coverage of rural schools with safe drinking water facilities can also be funded under this component of NRDWP. The fund sharing pattern for coverage of habitations as well as rural schools is 50:50 between Centre and State while it is 90:10 for North-Eastern States and Jammu & Kashmir.

(c) The State-wise allocation, release and expenditure details of NRDWP funds made under NRDWP during the last 3 years and current year is at Annexure-1. The statement showing coverage of schools as per DISE (District Information System for Education) data as on September 2012 maintained by the Ministry of Human Resource Development is at Annexure -2.

(d) & (e) Vide letter dated 17/1/2014, the Ministry is in receipt of a Very Important Reference (VIR) from Shri Bharat Ram Meghal, Hon’ble Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) enclosing a requisition from Hony. Secretary, Bharat Ram Mordiya Smarak Nyas (BRMSN) regarding sanctioning of a tubewell with power construction in the education institution for girls at Khasra No. 7, village Hinsla, Saleta Gram Panchayat, Thanagazi tehsil, Alwar, Rajasthan. The Ministry vide letter dated 10/2/2014 has forwarded the same to Public Health Engineering Department, Government of Rajasthan to take immediate action as they are already empowered with powers to plan, design, sanction, implement and monitor rural drinking water schemes including provision of safe drinking water in rural schools. In addition, following the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s order, all State departments dealing with drinking water supply have been directed to provide drinking water facilities in all rural schools immediately.