Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether a large number of people have contracted water borne diseases and if so, the details thereof over the last three years, State and UT-wise;
(b) the number of such cases that have been fatal;
(c) the steps the Government has taken to provide safe potable water in rural and urban areas across the country including Jharkhand; and
(d) the funds allocated and disbursed for the same during the last three years?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a) & (b): Diseases such as Cholera, Acute Diarrhoeal Diseases (Dysentery and Diarrhea), Enteric Fever (Typhoid) and Viral Hepatitis A & E are caused by consumption of contaminated drinking water. State/UT wise details of number of cases and deaths reported due to these diseases during 2014-16 as per data compiled by the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI) are indicated in Annexure.
(c) & (d): Provision of safe drinking water and health services falls within the remit of the State/UT Governments. However, the Government of India has taken steps both for facilitating availability of safe drinking water and also for ensuring effective surveillance of outbreaks of such diseases and their prevention and management.
As informed by the Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation, all States have been informed to commission surface water based piped water supply schemes in all habitations as a long term sustainable solution. However, since these projects have a long gestation period (say 3-5 years) and the rural people cannot be put to the risk of consuming contaminated water, all States have also been advised to install community water purification plants. This has been done with the objective of providing 8-10 litres of safe water per capita per day for drinking and cooking purposes only.
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Besides, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, through its Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, helps the States/UTs to effectively detect and respond to disease outbreaks including water borne diseases by providing additional manpower, strengthening of laboratories, Information & Communication Technology (ICT) equipment and funds. The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) also helps the States/UTs through surveillance, investigation, laboratory and other facilities. It also helps States in capacity building through training & developmental activities.
Health System Strengthening support being given to the State Governments under National Health Mission (NHM) also enhances capacity of the Health Institutions, up to the district level, to treat and manage water borne diseases.
As informed by Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation, funds are released and utilized for the supply of safe drinking water under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) including National Water Quality Sub Mission in the rural areas of the country. Besides, NITI Aayog has also provided funds to the tune of Rs. 800.00 crores during financial year 2015-16 for commissioning community water purification plants in all remaining arsenic and fluoride affected habitations as a short term/immediate measure. Utilization of resources optimally by the State Governments is critical for effectively reducing the incidence of water-borne diseases.
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