MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION
(SHRI BHARATSINH SOLANKI)
(a): Yes, Madam. The States have reported the names of rural habitations,
including Scheduled Tribe (ST) concentrated habitations which are either partially
covered or have quality problems with respect to drinking water supply, on the
Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of the Ministry. Under Nirmal
Bharat Abhiyan(NBA) formerly known as Total Sanitation Campaign(TSC), totally
607 district projects have been sanctioned so far, including for 147 ST
concentrated districts, that lack full coverage of sanitation facilities.
(b): The details of the status of coverage of ST concentrated habitations
with respect to drinking water supply, State-wise, as on 15.12.2012 is at
Annexure I. The details of target and coverage of ST concentrated habitations
under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) during the last three
years and the current year as on 15.12.2012, State wise is at Annexure II. Since
NBA is a demand driven programme, no State-wise targets are fixed. However
State-wise achievements made in the 147 ST concentrated districts during the
last three years and the current year are at Annexure-III.
(c): Under the NRDWP, 10% of the National allocation is earmarked for the
Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) for expenditure in ST concentrated habitations. The budget
under TSP for 2012-13 is Rs. 1050 crore. Under NRDWP, States are also required
to provide drinking water facilities to all rural habitations including small and
remote habitations irrespective of population size thereby enabling coverage of
more ST concentrated habitations. States have to prepare Annual Action Plan in which
targeting of coverage of ST concentrated habitations with drinking water supply is
prioritized. As regards NBA, incentive for construction of individual households
latrines is being provided to all ST households.
(d): The NBA guidelines specifically provide under para 5.4.4 that construction
of bucket latrines is not permitted in the rural areas and the existing bucket
latrines, if any, should be converted to sanitary latrines. Government of India
has been urging the States, including Maharashtra for conversion of all dry latrines
into sanitary latrines. Steps to increase construction of sanitary latrines include
the increase in incentive amount under NBA, widening of eligible categories of
beneficiaries to include identified APL households and convergence with Mahatma
Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) for additional funds
for toilet construction.
(e): The funds allocated and utilized under NRDWP by various States,
including Maharashtra, in the last three years and the current year is at
Annexure IV. Since NBA is demand driven programme, no State-wise allocations are
made. However details of funds released and spent under TSC /NBA during the last
three years and the current year, State-wise is at Annexure-V.
