India open-defecation free: opportunities and challenges

Abstract

According to Union Budget 2017, Sanitation coverage in Rural India has considerably improved to cover 60 percent of the population. Though the figure has doubled during the last 20 years still a huge population defecate in open and remain deprived of sanitation facilities. Improved sanitation facilities include piped sewer system, ventilated improved pit latrine and composting toilet to ensure separation of human excreta from human contact. For fiscal 2017-18, Government of India has allocated Rs 14000 crores under Swacch Bharat Mission (SBM) for improving sanitation and cleanliness. This has increased by nearly 40 percent from 2016-17 allocation. The flagship sanitation program aims to make India open defecation free by 2019 (150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi). The construction of individual and community toilets are key to achieve this target. As per the data available from NSSO government is falling short by over 50 percent to achieve its target for the year 2016. The private sector can play an important role in complementing Government efforts in developing necessary sanitation facilities in Rural India. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) can be utilized as an effective tool in this regard. The current paper reviews the progress made by the Government, both at the Centre and State level in terms of developing improved sanitation facilities. The paper also reviews the contribution made by Private sector through CSR spending and further explores the possibility of an effective Public, Private Partnership to achieve the national target of making India open-defecation free by 2019.