(a) whether it is a fact that India is among top 10 countries in the world with the largest number of people living without access to safe drinking water;
(b) if so, the number of people living without access to safe drinking water in the country, State-wise; and
(c) the details of the steps taken by Government to provide safe drinking water?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
(SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)
(a) & (b) As per the report of Water Aid released on World Water Day i.e. 22nd March, 2016, India is among top 10 countries in the world with the largest absolute number of people living without access to safe water. However, the said report envisages the comprehensive details of the whole country i.e. including rural and urban population of the country. In percentage terms, the report says that 5.9 % of total population in India is without access to safe drinking water. However, as per information provide by States on online portal i.e. Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of this Ministry, 417.56 Lakhs rural population or about 4.62 % of the rural population in the country do not have access to safe drinking water. The State-wise details of population without access of safe drinking water are at Annexure.
(c) Rural Drinking Water Supply is a State subject. The States are vested with power to select, design, approve, execute and monitor drinking water supply facilities for providing safe drinking water to their rural populace. Under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), this Ministry provides financial & technical assistance to States to supplement their efforts to improve the drinking water supply to rural population.
This Ministry has also prepared a strategic plan to provide safe drinking water to 90% of the rural population of the country through piped water supply schemes by the year 2022, subject to availability of funds. Currently the Ministry is having discussions with the States with regard to their strategy and total funds requirements in achieving the goal of 90 % household with piped water supply. Every year between February and April Annual Action Plan (AAP) meetings are held with the Departments of the State Governments dealing with rural drinking water supply, wherein the progress achieved under different components of NRDWP is reviewed and targets for the next financial year are fixed. The physical & financial progress of NRDWP is also monitored in National / Regional / State level review meetings, conferences and video conferences. Officers of the Ministry are also deputed to States to make field visits and review the progress of implementation. Further, Area Officers are nominated for all States and they participate in the State level Scheme Sanctioning Committees (SLSSC) so as to ensure that the project proposals are as per the mutually agreed Action Plan. Monitoring of drinking water supply to the rural population is a dynamic and continuous process.