Lok Sabha Question No. 798 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-03
Subject: Allocation for Drinking Water and Sanitation
Ministry: DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
Asked by: E. T. MOHAMMED BASHEER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 798 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2015

## Allocation for Drinking Water and Sanitation

## 798. SHRI E.T. MOHAMMED BASHEER:

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

- (a)  whether the Government has curtailed/proposes to curtail budgetary allocation for drinking water and sanitation during the current year; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor and the steps taken / proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure adequate provision for safe drinking water and achieve 100 per cent sanitation in rural areas of the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR DRINKING   WATER AND SANITATION (SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV)

- (a) & (b) Yes Madam, the budget of National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) has been curtailed by Union Government in view of enhancement of  14 th Finance  Commission  devolution  to  the  States  from  32%  to  42%. During the year 2015-16, an amount of Rs. 3796 crores has been provided for NRDWP in comparison to Rs. 9,250 crores provided for the same in 201415. The matter has been taken up with the Ministry of Finance and proposal has been submitted for additional allocation of Rs. 6,204 Crore in Supplementary demand stage in order to cater to the needs of States/UTs for rural drinking water supply projects.

Similarly,  under  Swachh  Bharat  Mission  (Gramin),  during  the  current Financial Year 2015-16, initially an amount of Rs. 2625 crores was allocated. Another Rs. 1500 crore have been allocated in supplementary demand. To ensure  fund  availability,  Government  of  India  has  imposed  0.5  Swachhata cess on Services w.e.f. 15.11.2015. Also, Swachh Bharat Kosh has been set up under the Ministry of Finance to attract contributions from Corporates and other entities towards achievement of Swachh Bharat. Additional funds have also been sought under 2 nd  Supplementary Demands.

The Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) (SBM-G) has been launched on 2nd October, 2014, which aims at attaining Swachh Bharat by 2 nd October 2019. Under  this  programme,  the  provision  of  incentive  for  the  construction  of Individual  household  latrine  (IHHL)  has  been  raised  from  Rs.  10000  to Rs.12000  for  all  Below  poverty  Line  (BPL)  households  and  to  identified Above Poverty Line  (APL)  households  (all  SCs  /STs,  small  and  marginal farmers,  landless  labourers  with  homestead,  physically  handicapped  and women-headed  households).  Further,  partial  funding  of  incentive  from Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Scheme  (MGNREGS)  has been stopped, since that was leading to in-efficiency in implementation. In the new programme, emphasis is laid on behaviour change and community participation. Partnerships with various stakeholders working  on  rural sanitation including multilateral organisations, Civil Society Organisations, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Institutions etc. is also being promoted.