Data reveals water supply, sanitation link

The analysis of Census data has revealed a strong co-relation between households having toilet and drinking water facilities within the premises. Households with drinking water facilities are more likely to have toilets against households that do not have water. This was proved in the case of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts, which topped in both these categories, while Adilabad and Mahbubnagar districts stood at the bottom.

“This makes it very important for water supply and sanitation programmes to work closely and not separately. The government and respective departments have to work in close coordination to achieve these dual goals at one go. Each of these facilities in an household is dependent on the other and schemes should be devised accordingly,” said Prof. S. Galab, director, Cess.

The study has recommended that the government brings in a monitoring committee and penalty system to bring about a behaviour change, specifically to cultivate the habit of toilet usage among community members. The monitoring committee should include members drawn from different village institutions such as gram panchayats, self-help groups, schools/anganwadis and law enforcement agencies like tehsildar/police or a lawyer.

It also suggested the government to explore a platform to initiate the PPP mode in this sector. “We have already seen a positive response in PPP mode in the field of water filters etc. Sanitation also needs the same kind of attention,” he said.