(a) whether it a fact that large number of Indian households do not have drainage connectivity and just over 10 per cent of the country have a toilet with a flush connected to a piped water system;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto;
(c) the steps taken to improve sanitation conditions in rural areas; and
(d) the details of the assistances provided to rural households to construct Individual Household Latrines (IHHL) in their houses?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION (SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV)
(a) to (b) Yes Madam. The Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) has been launched on 2nd October, 2014, which aims at attaining a Open Defecation Free India by 2nd October, 2019, by providing access to toilet facilities to all rural households and initiating Solid and Liquid Waste Management activities in Gram Panchayats to promote cleanliness. Solid and Liquid Waste Management is an important component of Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin). Funds for Solid and Liquid Waste Management activities with cap of Rs. 7/12/15/20 lakh are available for Gram Panchayats having upto 150/300/500/ more than 500 households. Under this component, activities like compost pits, vermin composting, biogas plants, low cost drainage, soakage channels/ pits, reuse of waste water and system for collection, menstrual hygiene management, segregation and disposal of household garbage etc can be taken up.
(c)&(d) The following Steps have been taken under Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) to improve sanitation conditions in rural areas :-
# Provision of incentives for the construction of Individual household latrine (IHHL) raised to Rs.12000, including central share of Rs.9000.00 (Rs. 10800.00 in case of special category states) and State share of Rs. 3000.00 (Rs. 1200.00 in case of special category states) 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).
# The partial funding of incentive from MGNREGS has been stopped. The entire assistance now been provided under one programme.
# Demand is sought to be created by triggering ‘Behaviour change’ by intensifying Information, Education and Communication (IEC) and Inter Personal Communication (IPC) campaigns as Sanitation is Mindset issue.
# Partnerships of various stakeholders working on rural sanitation to be promoted including Multilateral organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Civil Society Organisations, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Institutions etc.
# Outputs (Construction) and Outcomes (usage) to be monitored.
# Use of Technology to monitor coverage and use through a Hand held device to capture photos of beneficiary’s toilet and coordinates.
# Innovative, Low cost and User friendly technologies for toilets and Solid and Liquid Waste Management will be pursued.