What are the efforts made by government to improve drinking water facilities to people
Answers
Safe clean drinking water and sanitation facility is the basic right of a citizen and has been can be seen as the way towards fulfillment of Right to Life guaranteed by the constitution.
Several govt. right from the time of independence have focused on providing safe drinking water in rural areas under different schemes like Accelerate Drinking Water Supply, Swajal dhara, Niramal dhara program etc.
However the recently launched SBA is unique in the sense that it combines the goals of Sanitation and Clean Drinking Water supply.
The SBA covers different dimensions of the problem right from manual scavenging to household toilets and issue related to elimination of caste based discrimination
There need for change in the rural habits of open defecation is palpable.
It leads to several communicable disease as well as outrages the dignity of women folks.
Similarly govt. departments like rail has been the biggest employer of manual scavenging, which leads not only to serious health issues but is also against the basic human right to live the life of dignity.
Also the world of scavenging is reserved for backward section of the society which creates caste based inequalities
SBA intends to address all the issues.
However there are certain operational challenges which are faced by SBA
1. Problem of manpower. Not enough manpower to implement scheme at ground level
2. Problem of funding: Main source of funding is CSR fund and not public funds.
3. High cost associated with toilets: In rural india toilets are seen as luxury. People are reluctant to spend thousands on building and then maintaining them.
Some suggestion:
1. DRDO has recently developed bio toilets which can sensationalized at low cost and will require very low cost of maintenance
2. The bio toilets can attract people as it converts excreta into bio gas. This will take of of rural energy shortage.
3. NREGA workers can be roped in and may even be given the status of permanent employees. This will resolve the issue of manpower shortage.
Drinking water is very important and the government should take consideration on how improve its status for people to drink it.
There are several measures that can be taken by the government to proving drinking water to the people
The government can create large water treating plant that changes clean water to pure water which is necessary for drinking .
The area of concern should be directed by the government against water pollution.
Implement home to home pure water delivery at a subsidised price