Despite severe efforts by the Government, sanitary conditions in India are not up to the mark. Critically examine the above statement and put your views to improve the situation.
Refer – Business Line
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 6 years
KEY POINTS
· India, despite being the most economically ‘developed’ country in South Asia, has the distinction of having the highest number of open defecators in the world.
· Only about 40 per cent Indians have access to improved sanitation facilities, way behind most countries in South Asia.
Government efforts
· India had launched its first policy-level intervention in 1981, through an integrated, low-cost sanitation scheme to convert dry latrines to flush latrines.
· Later, continued through many other schemes such as –
a) Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (2005),
b) National Urban Sanitation Policy (2008),
c) Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM, 2014),
d) Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT 2015),
e) Faecal Sludge and Septage Management Policy (2016-17).
· Still the missing links in the entire sanitation chain are –
a) Provision of adequate funds,
b) Empowered local bodies,
c) Appropriate technology for sewage treatment plants,
d) An integrated approach to sanitation,
e) Data and knowledge management, and
f) Connections to sewer networks and their operation and maintenance.
Solution
· Capacity-building and Incentive-based performance are the need of the hour.
Scientific management of sewage
· Establish a legal framework with principles to guide implementation of safe and sustainable urban sanitation
· Devolve power to local bodies for strict enforcement of the “polluter pays” principle for scientific management of solid waste, faecal sludge and septage
· Incentivise scientific management of faecal waste storage.
Participatory approach
· Educate and motivate the householders towards engagement in planning and implementation of sanitation services and operation and maintenance of individual, community, and public toilets
· Enhance institutional, financial and human resource capacities of local bodies
· Enhance capacities of civil societies and other partners to engage them effectively in the entire water, sanitation and hygiene sector.
· Leverage corporate engagement in the sanitation arena.
Data management
· Improve data collection, management system and monitoring mechanism to emphasize quality rather than quantity in reporting progress.
Vishwanth Adhepalli 6 years
Plz review and give your feedback, thanks!
