(a) whether the newly constructed toilets in rural households have adequate water and drainage facilities and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the maintenance of these toilets will be the responsibility of the residents or the Government; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to promote behavioural change and encourage use of the new toilets constructed as opposed to the conventional practice of open defecation?
MINISTER OF STATE FORMINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION
(SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)
(a) Under Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) [SBM(G)], the incentive for individual toilet was increased from Rs.10,000 to Rs.12,000 to provide for water availability, including for storing water for hand-washing and cleaning. The SBM(G) and National Rural Drinking Water Programme(NRDWP) guidelines also provide for convergence towards implementation of the programmes of sanitation and water, and to maximize the availability of water for sanitation purposes. Open Defecation Free (ODF) declared villages are being prioritized for providing Piped Water Supply Schemes(PWSS) under NRDWP.Under SBM(G), rural pans are used which uses only 1-2 liters of water for flushing. Further, underSBM(G), Ministry promotes twin-leach pit toilets that do not require disposal of human faeces and are much cheaper and equally effective. Under this technology human faeces become manure in 1-2 years and no sewage /drainage facility is required.
(b) As per guidelines of SBM(G), the responsibility of maintenance of Individual household latrines (IHHLs) lies with owner.
(c) Under SBM(G), the preferable approach is to adopt Community Approaches to Sanitation (CAS) focusing heavily on triggering entire communities and on achieving collective behavioral change with emphasis on awareness generation. Upto 5% of the programme funds can be spent on Information, Education and Communication (IEC) and capacity building at the State and District level, and upto 3% at the Central level. Massive media campaigns have been started at national level using Audio Visual (TV) and Audio (Radio) aids. States are also carrying out IEC campaign including interpersonal Communication (IPC). Cleanliness drives and awareness campaigns are also held at regular intervals. NigraniSamities have been formed in the villages to ensure that the people use the toilets and not go for open defecation. Regular field visits including morning follow ups are undertaken by the Government officials to monitor and ensure the usage of toilets. Besides conventional IEC tools, social media is also being used for spreading the mass awareness. Swachh Bharat Whatsapp group has been created involving officials of Government of India and all the States. Similar groups for individual States have been formed. A Facebook page for SBM(G) has been created and twitter handles are also active. Media celebrities have been roped in as brand ambassadors.