Lok Sabha Question No. 951 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-21
Subject: Drinking Water and Sanitation Issues
Ministry: DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
Asked by: C. MAHENDRAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.951 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.12.2017

## Drinking Water and Sanitation Issues

## 951.SHRI C. MAHENDRAN:

Will  the  Minister  of  DRINKING WATER  AND  SANITATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  UNICEF  India  has  lauded  the  Government's  approach  in solving drinking water and sanitation issues and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  any  mechanism    to    review    and    react    on strategies  and  approaches  promoted  by  the  Government  in  connection  with Drinking Water and Sanitation;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is struggling to cope up with the objective of the Drinking    Water    Scheme    on  Sustainability  of  water  supply  in  terms  of Portability, Adequacy and Convenience and equity; and
- (e) if so, the detail s thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION

## (SHRI S.S.AHLUWALIA)

(a)  Yes  Madam,  as per news  reports  in  some  newspaper, during  the month of July,  2017,  United  National  Children's  Emergency  Fund  (UNICEF)India  has lauded  the  Government's  approach  in  solving  drinking  water  and  sanitation issues.  Reportedly,  it  has  been  said  by  UNICEF  India  that  transparency  and openness  with  stakeholders  will  be  beneficial  towards  undertaking  innovative measures.  The  comments  were  made  by  Chief  of  WASH  (Water,  Sanitation, Hygiene)  UNICEF  India,  Nicolas  Osbert  while addressing an Associated Chambers of  Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM)  conference titled 'Wash for All: Innovative approaches'.

SBM  (Gramin): Yes,  Madam.  Mr.  Nicolas  Osbert,  Chief  of  WASH,  Unicef, while addressing an Assocham conference on 19.7.2017 lauded the Ministry of

Drinking  Water  and  Sanitation's  approach  towards  solving  issues  concerning lack  of  drinking  water  and  sanitation.  He mentioned that the  transparency and openness  of  Ministry  with  stakeholders  are  beneficial  towards  undertaking innovative measures.

(b)& (c) Providing drinking  water  supply to the rural population  is a dynamic and  continuous  process.  The  physical  &  financial  progress  of  National  Rural Drinking  Water  Programme  (NRDWP)  is  monitored  in  National  /  Regional  / State level review  meetings,  conferences  and video-conferences. The  last National Level Review  Meeting with State Ministers and Secretaries of Departments of State Governments for Rural Drinking Water Supply was held on  22nd  March,  2017.  Performance  of  States  is  also  reviewed  during  Annual Action Plan (AAP) meetings held during February/March by the Ministry every year. In the last review meeting, States have been asked to focus on completion of ongoing schemes with special focus on Arsenic/Fluoride affected habitations, SansadAdarsh  Gram  Yojna  (SAGY)  Gram  Panchayats  and  Open  Defecation Free declared villages.

SBM  (Gramin): Under  Swachh  Bharat  Mission  (Gramin),  Ministry  regularly organize brain-storming  workshops with public policy researchers,  media person,  District  Collectors,  Development  partners  working  in  the  field  of Sanitation. One on such session was organised on 17.5.2017. In the workshop, discussions  were  held  on  the  SBM  (G)  progress,  strategies  and  approaches adopted so far and the way forward.

(d) & (e) In order to cope up with the objective of the Drinking Water Scheme on Sustainability of water supply in terms  of Portability,  Adequacy  and Convenience and equity,  this  Ministry  has  restructured the NRDWP making it more competitive, result oriented and outcome based.