Rural area low cost sanitation in Assam

[keerthi sureshbabu]

Low cost rural sanitation programme in Golaghat district in Assam plays an important role in health of the human population and the environment point of view. Approximately 40% of the world’s population does not have access to improved sanitation and as a result millions of people in the developing country die in infectious water borne disease like cholera, hepatitis, typhoid and diarrhea every year. The pathogens are particularly deadly in developing countries: diarrhea alone kills about 1.3 million children under the age of five each year due to poor sanitary conditions and practices. Prevailing high infant mortality rate which contributed to poor sanitation, the central rural sanitation programme (CRSP) was launched in 1986 primarily with the objective of improving the quality of life of the rural people and also to provide privacy and dignity to women. Total sanitation campaign (TSC) emphasizes more on information, education and communication (IEC), human resource development, capacity development activities to increase awareness among the rural people and generation of demand for sanitary facilities. In Assam rural areas, open defecation is not a normal practice. A major section of the community uses a Kutchha latrine for defecation which is constructed by digging an earthen pit and fitting an arrangement into pit to be seed for defecation with a temporary superstructure above it. This kutchha latrine proposed to be converted into sanitary latrines. Some major challenges identified in Assam are: a) conversion of the kutchha latrines to sanitary latrines. b) To increase the coverage of different sanitation facilities in rural areas. C) To change the mindset of rural population and to encourage wide use of sanitation facilities and proper hygienic behavior among all communities. D) To appraise the rural population about the desired benefits from proper sanitation facilities like prevention of water and sanitation related diseases. To monitor all TSC projects being implemented in different districts in Assam there is a state level water and sanitation mission named Rajiv Gandhi Rural Water and Sanitation Mission (RGRWSM) and communication and sanitation cell of PHED; Assam headed by the chief engineers in different districts. It has been emphasized more on adoption of low cost options for individual household’s latrine. To ensure safe drinking water and good health, a joint programme of state implemented in the rural areas of Golaghat, Govt of Assam and NGOs on total sanitation was implemented in the rural areas of Golaghat district. A total of 79,743 households of below poverty line and 27,031 of above poverty line covering 102 GP of Golaghat was benefited by the scheme. A total of 24772 households of below poverty line and 8205 households of APL have already covered by TSC in the year 2009.1014 numbers of schools have also been covered by the same scheme. The success rate of installation of baby friendly toilets in the Anganwadi centers was almost 100% in the year 2009. All existing dry latrines in rural areas of Golaghat district have been converted to pour flush latrines

[GOPI KANTA GHOSH]

Wonderful...it should be replicated...we must share

[shailendra singh]

TSC is very good step taken by govt. in Asom and different part of india but some problem regarding very low budget for construction of a latrine is about 2-3 thousand, govt. should increase the budget for better sanitation facilities.

[NITESH LAXMANBHAI PATEL]

Great...I also be interested to doing such type of work in my village "Vadgam" We first need to change the mindset of local people...so need to find which type of ideas and programme available for change the current condition in rural areas...people not ready to understand the importance of cleaniness in rural area.you are requested to visit our local website www.vadgam.com

 

Regards,

 

Nitin