Drinking Water Advocacy and Communication Strategy Framework 2013-2022

www.indiasanitationportal.org   November 20th, 2013

India has met the drinking water target for its Millennium Development Goal commitment and in doing so has contributed significantly to the global achievement of this target.

About 92 per cent of the urban population and 90 per cent of the rural population has access to improved water sources such as piped water, tube well and protected sources. However, this access has not been able to ensure adequacy, quality and equitable distribution. Only 12 per cent of the rural population has access to piped water supply on premises while 10 per cent uses unimproved sources. Among the rural population that have access to piped water supply on premises 32 per cent are from the richest quintile while it is 1 per cent of the poorest quintile.

Pollution of groundwater reserves due to natural and anthropogenic contamination in many regions is another emerging challenge. Almost 70 per cent of surface water and an increasing percentage of groundwater are contaminated by open defecation, industrial effluents, domestic waste, and agriculture.

The National Rural Drinking Water Programme of the Government of India aims to provide safe, adequate and accessible supply of drinking water for all in rural India. The Programme envisions ensuring by 2022 piped water supply to at least 90 per cent of the rural households and at least 80 per cent of rural households with household piped connection.

To achieve its overall objective of providing improved and sustainable drinking water services in rural communities, NRDWP focuses on water quality management, source sustainability, sustainable service delivery (operation and maintenance), building professional capacity and strengthening decentralized governance through Panchayati Raj Institutions and community involvement. It seeks to involve the community by enriching their knowledge and skills in a way that they understand the benefits of hygiene practices and are empowered to manage their drinking water sources and systems.

The updated guidelines of the NRDWP (2013) provides a new thrust on social and behaviour change communication to influence key stakeholders to adopt hygiene practices and empower them with knowledge and skills for planning, implementation, operation, maintenance and management of drinking water supply. NRDWP has earmarked 5 per cent of funds on a 100 per cent Central share basis to be used for different support activities including intensive IEC activities, interpersonal communication and capacity building of Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs), Panchayati Raj functionaries and frontline workers.

To facilitate the implementation of communication interventions the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in collaboration with UNICEF has developed the National Drinking Water Advocacy and Communication Framework 2013-2022. This document has been developed to guide advocacy and communication activities at national, state and district levels. All States need to adapt and develop their state-specific strategies based on this framework. The objective is that the goals of NRDWP are understood and shared by all key stakeholders and there is ownership and commitment to action. . I hope this framework is effectively utilized as a useful tool for the implementation of NRDWP.

With the NBA working to engage the community into integrating toilets and the government increasing funds for sanitation, I’m hopeful the situation in India will turn around-though it may likely take longer than the 2017 deadline. The recognition of poor sanitation being behind child malnutrition is already being touted as a huge development, and the article has been shared on a lot of websites. Hopefully the attitude of food being the sole solution to malnutrition will change and focus will turn to remedying the poor sanitation. I’m grateful that my eyes were opened, and I know I will never complain about a long line for the ladies’ room…ever.