Sanitation coverage in India – A critical view of the ‘sanitation miracle’ in rural India

Source: The post sanitation coverage in India has been created, based on the article “A critical view of the ‘sanitation miracle’ in rural India” published in “The Hindu” on 6th February 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 – Governance – Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.

News: The article discusses how India improved public sanitation from 2014 to 2019, moving towards being Open Defecation Free. However, challenges remain in ensuring toilet use and addressing social norms.

What is the current status of sanitation coverage in India?

Access to water and sanitation is Goal 6 in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals envisaged by the United Nations.

Sanitation coverage in India significantly improved from 39% in 2014 to 100% in 2019, as per the Government of India.

The Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G), launched in 2014, aimed to make India Open Defecation Free (ODF) by October 2019. The government’s current goal is to transition from ODF to ODF Plus by 2024-25, with about 85% of villages already achieving ODF Plus status.

The National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey (NARSS) Round-3 (2019-20) reports that 95% of India’s rural population had access to toilets. Of these, 79% owned their toilets, 14% shared facilities, and 1% used public toilets.

Although 96% of these toilets were functional and had water access, only 85% of the rural population used safe and hygienic toilets.

Toilet access varied by caste, with 97% for upper castes and 95% for Scheduled Castes.

The upper castes showed a higher percentage of toilet non-use compared to backward castes.

Between 2014 and 2019, approximately 10 crore toilets were constructed under the SBM-G.

What are the issues with sanitation coverage in India?

Incomplete Usage Despite Access: While sanitation coverage improved to 100% by 2019, only 85% of rural Indians use safe and hygienic toilets, indicating a gap in actual usage.

Quality and Infrastructure Issues: Problems like malfunctioning facilities, unhygienic conditions, and structural issues like full pits or collapsing superstructures hinder toilet usage.

Water Scarcity Impact: Lack of water access, especially in rural areas like Gujarat’s Dahod district, leads to higher non-use of toilets.

Behavioral and Social Norms: Cultural norms and behaviors affect toilet usage, with some households using them for purposes other than defecation.

Caste-Based Variances: Toilet access and usage vary across castes, with upper castes surprisingly showing higher rates of non-use.

Challenges in Larger Households: Larger households often struggle with toilet usage due to overcrowding and limited facilities.

What initiatives have been taken for sanitation coverage in India?

Central Rural Sanitation Programme (CRSP): Launched in 1986, it was India’s initial step towards improving rural sanitation with substantial subsidies.

Total Sanitation Campaign: Started in 1999, this marked a shift to a lower subsidy, demand-driven approach.

Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G): Launched in 2014, this mission aimed to make India Open Defecation Free (ODF) by October 2019. The government aims to transform India from ODF to ODF Plus by 2024-25.

Phase II of SBM-G: Focuses on sustainability, promoting solid and liquid waste management, and covering households left out earlier.

National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey (NARSS): Conducted to assess rural sanitation coverage, showing 95% of rural India having toilet access.

What should be done?

1. Focus on changing cultural and social norms to increase actual toilet usage.

2. Ensure toilets are functional and hygienic, addressing issues like collapsing structures and full pits.

3. Focus on households that were not covered in the initial phases, particularly in rural areas.

4. Tailor strategies to be sensitive to the variations in toilet usage across different social and caste groups.

5. Align sanitation initiatives with other related programs like the Jal Jeevan Mission for better outcomes.

Question for practice:

Discuss the key factors contributing to the challenges in achieving full and effective sanitation coverage in India.