MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
(SHRI BHARATSINH SOLANKI)
(a): The details of the funds allocated, released and utilized under the National Rural Drinking
Water Programme (NRDWP) during the last three years State/UT-wise is at Annexure I.
As regards Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan(NBA) no allocation of funds is made as the programme is demand
driven. The details of funds released and utilised under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA) during each
of the last three years, State/UT-wise is at Annexure-II
(b)&(c): The reasons for some States not being able to utilise the amounts released to them under
NRDWP include delays in planning, approval and procurement processes, taking up multi- village
schemes that require 2-3 years for completion, imposition of model code of conduct due to
declaration of elections/ bye elections.
Various mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that the States are able to utilize the funds
released to them. The State Governments are required to prepare an Annual Action Plan by March for
the coming year to implement various components and activities of the NRDWP. They have to mark the
targeted habitations and provide details of works, schemes and activities in the on-line
Integrated Management Information System (IMIS). Coverage and progress data is also to be entered
in the on-line IMIS. Financial performance of States is also monitored through visits of Ministry
officers to States, conducting review meetings at National, regional and State levels and
video-conferencing during which States are urged to improve pace of utilization of funds.
As regard NBA, low physical progress in creation of sanitation facilities in some States is
possibly due to less demand generation. In order to ensure optimum utilization of funds regular
reviews are carried out.
(d)&(e): Information, Education and Communication (IEC) is an important component of the Nirmal
Bharat Abhiyan (NBA). The major steps taken by the Government to improve IEC as part of NBA are
as under:
i. Under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA), 15% of the total outlay of district projects has been
earmarked for Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities.
ii. IEC Guidelines have been issued in order to provide a broad framework to the States for
the implementation of IEC activities to increase awareness among rural people, generation of
demand for sanitation facilities and creation of clean environment.
iii. Communication and Advocacy Strategy (2012-2017) for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene has
been launched in collaboration with UNICEF. It is designed to roll out a number of activities
in a phased manner, from planning, implementation to monitoring.
iv. Provision has been made to engage Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), village level
motivators (Swachhata Doots/ Sanitation Managers), field functionaries like ASHA, Anganwadi
Workers, School Teachers, and Bharat Nirman Volunteers for effectively disseminating IEC messages.
v. Mobile message based Communication was carried out on a pilot basis as an effective tool
for dissemination of awareness on Sanitation, targeting rural areas of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.
vi. To propagate the message of construction and use of toilets by all , audio and
audio-visual spots have been produced in collaboration with UNICEF.
