15 percent funds earmarked for sanitation projects

The government is earmarking 15 percent of the total outlay of all projects in any district for proper sanitation and clean drinking water, officials said Saturday.

More emphasis has been put on Information Education Communication (IEC) by earmarking 15 percent of the total outlay of district projects for IEC activities, they said.

The rural development ministry is working out a conjoint approach with the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) to ensure water availability for sanitation in gram panchayats.

High priority has been accorded to the sanitation sector in the 12th Five Year plan. Rs.34,377 crore has been provided for rural sanitation as compared to Rs.6,540 crore in the 11th plan.

The goal is to achieve 100 percent access to sanitation for all rural households in the country by 2022 under the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA). Also, as per 12th plan objectives of the NBA, 50 percent of all gram panchayats are to become Nirmal Grams by 2017.

The NBA is currently being implemented in 607 rural districts across the country.

The NBA - or total sanitation campaign -- was rolled-out in 1999-2000. It aims to motivate rural households to build toilet facilities and encourage their use.