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Fiscal Incentives and Awards Program in Rural Sanitation

(Learnings from Maharashtra, India)

V.S.Dhumal I.A.S , Principal Secretary

Water Supply & Sanitation Department

Government of Maharashtra, India

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Mumbai

Map of India

Map of Maharashtra

• One of the largest State of India.

• Most industrialized

• Situated in western region of the country.

• Mumbai, the financial capital of India, is capital of the State.

• Total Population 96.8 million as in 2001

• Rural Population : 53.7 million

• Area : 3,07,713 sq km

About Maharashtra

Maharashtra

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Sanitation Coverage

Year Total Households as per census (In Millions )

Households with access to sanitation

( In Millions)

Household sanitation Coverage ( In Percent )

1991 9.60 0.6 6.31996 * 10.30 0.66 6.42001 11.00 2.32 21.1

2006 * 11.70 4.83 41.3

* Extrapolated from decade census population

Yearwise Sanitation Coverage

(1991- 2006)

• The State Government created a separate Department of Water Supply & Sanitation in 1996 and gave top priority to the water & sanitation programme.

• Focus was on creating subsidised individual household toilets.• Two pit environmental friendly toilets were promoted. • This approach helped in constructing 1.7 million toilets during

the period between 1996 to 1999 and improved coverage from a mere 6% to 20%.

• Emphasis was on creation of assets and not on behavioral change.

Evolution of Policy (1996-2000)

– Lack of sanitation facilities is not always due to lack of resources for families above poverty line but deep rooted behavior & lack of priority of household for toilets. Hence need of creating demand through awareness and IEC.

– Focus should be on all aspects of sanitation rather than mere construction of toilet.

– Community action can bring sustainable change in individual behavior.

Focus on Village as a unit rather than on Individuals.

Lessons Learnt :

• Government of India started the Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) under its broader Reform Agenda in this sector in 1999.

• State Government was first to adopt and implement new approach in 2000.

• Under this approach the focus shifted from:

– households to community as a unit

– from construction of latrines to elimination of the practice of open defecation

– from household subsidy to ‘community rewards’ for collective achievement of goals.

– Subsidy to individual household reduced to zero.

– Incentive given to only Below Poverty Line Family on collective achievement

Evolution of Policy : (Post Year 2000)

• Focus on making whole village “Open Defecation Free” to reap optimum

health benefits

• Though slow to begin with, this concept has now gained popularity in the state

and major stakeholders are (social workers, politicians, government officers

etc) promoting this concept.

• In a short span of 4 years about 3500 villages panchayats have achieved the

status of ‘Open Defecation Free Village ’and many more are on the verge.

• Maharashtra has set a goal to achieve MDG by 2007 and making all Villages

100 % free from open defecation very soon .

Evolution of Policy : (Post Year 2000) ….Contd.

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PHYSICAL PROGRESS

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• An innovative , award based program was started in the year 2000 captioned as ‘Sant Gadge Baba Village Campaign’ (SGBC), giving emphasis on all aspects of sanitation.

• The aim of SGBC Campaign was to promote community action in water and sanitation sector and creating awareness amongst masses leading to demand for sanitation.

• The SGBC has since gained momentum and has grown in strength. Ithas become a leading example for other development programs.

• The “Open Defecation Free Community” has gained rapid public support and is fast becoming a mass movement in the State.

• The Government of India initiated “Nirmal Village Award” in 2002 for “Open Defecation Free” Village.

From Subsidy to Fiscal Incentives & Awards

The Clean Village Campaign (SGBC)

• It is a competition for ‘clean village’ award where villages participate voluntarily.

• The Gram panchyats, PRI take the lead in mobilizing communities.

• Communities undertake work with their own resources and no subsidy from the State

• A ‘Neutral Committee’ evaluates the competing villages at 5 levels : sub-block: block,district, region and state.

• Award money given as a token of appreciation of the community’s collective action towards building a positive physical and social environment in the villages.

• More than 8000 Village Panchayats (PRI) have participated in this process

• Successful villages are recognized as resource centers for rural development and innovation.

A award based Campaign , for Clean Villages since 2000 …Village Development Through Community action

• Sant Gadge Maharaj, a great saint of 20th century, worked for village upliftment and specially for village cleanliness.

• Sant Gadge Baba identified himself with masses.

• His memory has a strong emotional appeal throughout Maharashtra

• Hence, the programme was initiated in his memory.

About the Saint :

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All Decisions are collectively taken in the villages

Villages participates in the competition with innovative ideas

Campaign covers : Drinking Water Management , Liquid & Solid Waste Management , Sanitation Coverage , Overall Cleanliness , Community Participation , Family Welfare , Non -Conventional Energy etc.

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• Preparation at District level

• 20th to 30th September (Every year).

• Simultaneous Gram Sabha( Assembly of voters) in all villages - 2nd Oct (Gandhi Jayanti Day).

• Campaigns and activities related to sanitation are planned and implemented.

• Participating villages are evaluated by independent teams at different stages.

• Government motivates more and more villages to take part.

Campaign Mode

• 3 Cleanest Villages In Each Block– Rs. 25000, Rs.15000, Rs.10000

• 3 Cleanest Villages In Each District– Rs.0.5 M , Rs.0.3 M, Rs.0.2 M

• 2 Cleanest Village In Each Division– Rs. 1.0 M , Rs. 0.6 M

• 3 Cleanest Village In The State– Rs. 2.5 M, Rs. 1.5 M, Rs. 1.25 M

The prize money is required to be utilised only for the community development activities in the village.

Awards after performance :

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Award Ceremony

• Appropriate programme with very high visibility at the every level.

• At the state level the awards are given at the hands of the Governor & Chief Minister of the state.

• Sarpanch, VWSC chairman and women representative from the prize winning village receives the prize on behalf of the village

The Chief Minister at the State level award

ceremony

Impact :

• This campaign has ignited the community spirit and transformed into a mass movement

• The community involvement in terms of social forestry, watersheddevelopment, management of local resources, women and youth empowerment , utilisation of waste for organic manure, promotingnon-conventional energy are exemplary.

• Large amount of resources mobilised by the community • Achieved universalisation of sanitation.• Villages have better living conditions and improved aesthetically.• The PRI institutions strengthened.• Government faith in decentralisation vindicated.• Convergence at PRI level has improved the service delivery

mechanism.

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• Under Nirmal Village Award initiated by GoI, 13 PRIs from Maharashtra received awards out of 40 PRIs awarded from the country in 2004

• 381 PRIs received awards out of 766 PRIs awarded from the country in 2005

• Applications for 2956 PRIs have been submitted to GoI for the current year.

• Institution of Nirmal village award has given tremendous boost to our efforts in scaling up sanitation coverage and universalisation of the concept.

Impact (Cont..)

• The sanitation coverage has increased to 42% in 2006 in rural Maharashtra having a direct implications on the health of the community.

• A broader realisation and acceptance within the rural communities about the importance of managing the water and sanitation services by themselves for effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability.

• The sanitation reforms (SGBC and “Open Defecation Free”moment) have created a social environment for communities to come together, identify their common programmes and address them in an equitable manner.

• Many states and countries have studied the reform approach adopted by the GoM and have started picking up key aspects of this model for their own states/ countries.

Impact (Cont.) :

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The award ceremony of Nirmal Village at the hands of Hon. President of India

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Operationalising Reforms

Glimpses of Efforts

Specially Prepared Rath for RathYatras

State Transport Bus is used for publicity

Mass Communication

Media coverage

Message painted on walls

Kala-pathak in action Documentary Shows

Sanitation Torch for awarenessSanitation Exhibition

Inter-Personal Communication(Masons, Trained Teachers, School Students, Anganwadi Workers,

Extension workers, Para-professionals, NSS Volunteers, PRI Representatives)

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Involving Celebrities for Social Cause in IEC Films

for triggering the Campaign.

Anna Hazare – Renowned social activist

Sachin Tendulkar – Star Cricketer

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Information dissemination and transparency

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Involving student as messengers for mobilization

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Innovative ideas implemented by villages to earn good marks in the competition.

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Integrated Approach :

• Soak pit are made by households

• Many villages have gone for underground drainage system .

• Kitchen gardens are promoted• Community compost pits have

been taken up.• Water borne and sanitation

related diseases have significantly reduced.

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Before After Photo Album

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After After

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