Question : RURAL SANITATION

(a) whether the rural sanitation programme has been implemented by the State Governments to improve the standard of living of the people in the rural areas;

(b) if so, the percentage of rural population in the country for whom sanitation facilities are beyond reach, State-wise;

(c) whether any action plan has been drawn up by the Government to provide these facilities to the entire rural population;

(d) if so, the details thereof indicating the estimated expenditure likely to be incurred thereon;

(e) whether the Union Government propose to provide additional assistance to meet the target set under the rural sanitation programme; and

(f) if so, the details thereof, State-wise, especially for Madhya Pradesh?

MINISTER FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI M.VENKAIAH NAIDU)



(a)to(f); A statement is laid on the Table of the House.


STATEMENT AS REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.224 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7.08.2001

(a): The Central Rural Sanitation Programme is being implemented by the State/UT Governments with the objective to bring about an improvement in the general quality of life in the rural areas.

(b): There is no State-wise survey carried out by the Ministry of Rural Development to assess the population in the rural areas to whom sanitation facilities are beyond reach. However, according to the 54th round of the survey conducted in 15 States by the National Sample Survey Organisation, Department of Statistics (published in July, 1999), 82.5% of the rural households were not using latrines as per the details given in Annexure-I.

(c) to (d): Taking into consideration the experience gained in the implementation of the Programme in the past, the Central Rural Sanitation Programme(CRSP) was restructured w.e.f. 1st April 1999. The Restructured Central Rural Sanitation Programme moves away from the principle of State-wise allocations primarily based on poverty criteria to a `demand-driven` approach. States are required to formulate Total Sanitation Campaign(TSC) projects in identified pilot districts. The Programme is implemented as community led and people centered. A demand driven approach is adopted with increased stress on awareness building and meeting the demand with alternate delivery mechanisms. Rural school sanitation has been introduced as a major component and entry point for wider acceptance of sanitation by the rural people. The allocation based programme is being phased out by the end of the current financial year.

(e)&(f); The Planning Commission has fixed a target of 25% of rural population coverage under sanitation by the end of the 9th Plan Period. For this purpose during the 9th Plan Period an allocation of Rs.549 crore has been provided. During current year, Rs.150 crore have been allocated as Central assistance under Central Rural Sanitation Programme and out of which about Rs.135 crore have been earmarked for Total Sanitation Campaign and for this amount no specific State allocations have been made as this is a demand driven Programme. However, about Rs.15 crore have been provided during the current financial year under the Allocation Based Programme and funds allocated State-wise are at Annexure-II. Madhya Pradesh has been sanctioned 5 Total Sanitation Campaign projects in the districts of Gwalior, Sehore, Raisen, Narsinghpur and Hoshangabad amounting to Rs.39.01 crore. The first instalment of Rs.7.73 crore of the Central assistance has already been released.