(a) whether the Government has curtailed/proposes to curtail budgetary
allocation for drinking water and sanitation during the current year; and
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor and the steps taken /
proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure adequate provision for safe drinking water and achieve 100 per cent sanitation in rural areas of the country?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
(SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV)
(a) & (b) Yes Madam, the budget of National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) has been curtailed by Union Government in view of enhancement of 14th Finance Commission devolution to the States from 32% to 42%. During the year 2015-16, an amount of Rs. 3796 crores has been provided for NRDWP in comparison to Rs. 9,250 crores provided for the same in 2014-15. The matter has been taken up with the Ministry of Finance and proposal has been submitted for additional allocation of Rs. 6,204 Crore in Supplementary demand stage in order to cater to the needs of States/UTs for rural drinking water supply projects.
Similarly, under Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), during the current Financial Year 2015-16, initially an amount of Rs. 2625 crores was allocated. Another Rs. 1500 crore have been allocated in supplementary demand. To ensure fund availability, Government of India has imposed 0.5 Swachhata cess on Services w.e.f. 15.11.2015. Also, Swachh Bharat Kosh has been set up under the Ministry of Finance to attract contributions from Corporates and other entities towards achievement of Swachh Bharat. Additional funds have also been sought under 2nd Supplementary Demands.
The Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) (SBM-G) has been launched on 2nd October, 2014, which aims at attaining Swachh Bharat by 2nd October 2019. Under this programme, the provision of incentive for the construction of Individual household latrine (IHHL) has been raised from Rs. 10000 to Rs.12000 for 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). Further, partial funding of incentive from Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme (MGNREGS) has been stopped, since that was leading to in-efficiency in implementation. In the new programme, emphasis is laid on behaviour change and community participation. Partnerships with various stakeholders working on rural sanitation including multilateral organisations, Civil Society Organisations, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Institutions etc. is also being promoted.