m/ Vol. 5 Issue 3 & 4 July - Decemberl992 ' •l' F :.-. ,V-0 CONTENTS • DEVELOPMENT OF LOW COST SANITATION IN INDIA • RURAL SANITATION PROGRAMME IN KERALA • WORLD BANK AIDED LOW COST SANITATION PROGRAMME • CAPART ASSISTED PROGRAMME IN KERALA • KWA/SEUNEWS EDITORIAL It is widely acknowledged that lack of sanitation facilities adversely affects the quality of life of people. In 1943 the first report on sanita­ tion problems in a national perspective was prepared. Since then a lot of effort have been made in India to improve environmental and sanitary conditions. But even after 50years, we still have a long way to go in realizing these goals. Even in a highly literate state like Kerala the situation is not as encouraging as it should be. Reasons for this may include the density of population and large coastal regions. There is also a misconception among many well-educated Keratites and professionals that due to the high level of literacy, political consciousness and social awareness in Kerala, it is not necessary to carry out education and awareness activities on the proper use and maintenance of sanitary latrines. However, the ex­ perience with ESP and other programmes reveals that many Keralities are not different from others in using and maintaining latrines. Note, for example, the large number offilled-up and filthy ESP latrines in the State. Several Institutions, both governmental and non-governmental, in Kerala are involved in sanitation programmes. However, no reliable data is available on the magnitude of their operation, strategies and results of their programmes. The article in this issue on "Develop­ ment of low-cost sanitation in India: an historical review" em­ phasizes the need for a systematic review of the activities of various programmes. This article also stresses the importance of health education and follow-up monitoring in sanitation programmes, usually neglected by implementors. This issue of Jalasandesh also carries information about various on­ going programmes in household sanitation carried out in Kerala. While H is pleasing to see that there is substantial work being done in this field, it is also unfortunate that there is no concerted or joint effort. A combined and coordinated effort from each group involved in household sanitation activities can indeed take us a long way toward attaining better health conditions. * An Integrated water supply and sanitatiini-pfiyMmiW""- :_--.3190. 2509 AD THE HAGUE: Tel • +31 70 30 689 p" c , 30O a5 /oC -.«»S To™*? ' -3 « • ©i] <m • * DEVELOPMENT OF LOW COST SANITATION as the Environmental Sanitation IN INDIA - AN HISTORICAL REVIEW Project (ESP) started in 1957 under the Public Health Engineering Department Dr. K. Balachandra Kurup (PHED). It promulgated a single leach Executive Co-ordinator, SEU - Kerala pit type latrine with a squatting slab and the water seal bowl placed over the pit. Sanitation programme which started in India since 1943, has yet to make much In 1959 there was a scavengers' strike progress. This is more true in the case of increasing the coverage and proper in Trivandrum city and the entire dry bucket type latrines were replaced by use and maintenance of the available facilities. Even in a highly literate state like the PHED with ESP type latrines. Later, Kerala the environmental conditions are not as encouraging as it should be. Many ESP latrines were popularised in other sanitation programmes in Kerala and other states were not able to contribute parts of Kerala through NES blocks meaningfully due to the absence of community participation and education with 75% government subsidy. programmes. There is an urgent need to review and study the experience of ongoing sanitation programmes implemented by various groups for developing Even after independence, con­ an effective and sustainable low cost sanitation programme for improving the certed efforts for improving the sanita­ quality of life. tion in rural areas did not acquire the deserved importance. It was only in Safe water and environmental sacrifice. Acharya Vinobhaji, Shri. 1954, the rural sanitation programme sanitation has been considered as two Balkoba Bhave, Shri. Appa Saheb Pat- was introduced in the first five year essential components of sound health. wardhan and Shri. Ishwarbhai Patel plan, as part of the health sector. The Sanitation planning in India is only ap­ took to scavenging as a part of Ashram programme envisaged assistance to proximately 50 years old. Although, disciplines for bringing out revolution­ State Governments in the form of 50% prevailing technologies of the west ary changes in the attitude of the grant towards rural water supply and were brought to India after the British people. Different types of latrines were sanitation facilities. By the end of the took over the country, it was only in planned for different regions, based on second five year plan it was realised 1943 that a health survey and develop­ the socio-cultural and economic condi­ that rural sanitation was not receiving ment committee, also known as the tions. In 1940 the programme in Bengal due attention. The first five year plan Bhore Committee was appointed to was intensified with the assistance of had a provision of Rs.6 crores for rural look into sanitary problems on a nation­ the rural centre of All India Institute of water supply and sanitation program­ al perspective. Even before this some Hygiene and Public Health, Calcutta. In mes. However, the provision went on of the then provincial governments 1945, the Bhore committee submitted increasing and currently in the eighth started implementing sanitation its recommendations to the Govern­ five year plan, the provision for the total ment. Recommendations of the com­ programmes. In 1928 (in Madras) and water supply and sanitation sector is in mittee included suggestions to provide later in 1935 special provincial orders the order of Rs.16,486.03 crores (com­ safe and adequate piped water supply were issued by the then government for bined- State and Central provision). a rural latrine construction programme to all towns with a population of 50,000 in some of the provinces. This however, or more within 35 years and installation A Research cum Action Project could not be considered a systematic of drainage within 10 years. Most of (RCA) was established in 1956 by the latrine programme and in actual prac­ these recommendations went unful­ Union Ministry of Health with the assis- tice depended more on the initiatives of filled. the district health officers. Provinces The Environmental Hygiene Com­ like Bengal, Bombay, Madras, Mysore, Editorial Group mittee (1948-49) appointed by the Na­ Punjab, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh tional Government of India to B.F.H.R. Bijli showed great interest in rural latrine undertake the overall assessment and Dr. K. Balachandra Kurup construction. In 1932 Mahatma Gandhi planning of environmental sanitation, P. Harish Kumar established the Harijan Sevak Sangh recommended a 40 year plan to cover for the liberation of scavengers. 90% of the population. The fate of this Through this organization many dry commttee's report was just the same as Views expressed in this newsletter do not neceS' latrines have been converted into new sarily reflect opinions of the Kerala Water that of Bhore committee. During 1950's Authority, Donor Agencies or the SEUs. non-scavenging type latrines at rela­ the World Health Organization (WHO) tively low cost. Subsequently, the sponsored two pilot projects, one in workers of the Harijan Sevak Sangh Type Set by Akshara DTP Centre, Vellayambalam, Lucknow and the other in Trfvandrum Trivandrum and Produced by WHITE Trivandrum took their work as a mission with great Rural. The Trivandrum project known 3 tance of the Ford Foundation. Com­ India Seminar on water and sewerage Gujarat and Bihar and recommended mendable work was carried out works, suggested the formation of extesive work on leaching pit .models. through the project in three centres at autonomous water and sewerage Similar views were expressed at the Poonamallee (Madras), Singur (West board to deal efficiently with the International seminar on low cost tech­ Bengal) and Najafgarh (Delhi). The In­ problems. The National Conference for nologies for disposal of human wastes dian Council of Medical Research drinking water facility, held at (ICMR) initiated similar research in urban communities, which was held Sevagram, Wardha in 1969, resolved projects in Kerala, West Bengal, Bom­ at Calcutta in 1980. bay and Punjab to study the various that as part of Gandhi Centenary With the onset of the International technology options suitable for dif­ Celebrations, which were to take place Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation ferent regions. During 1958-62, the later that year, that one lakh from those Decade (IDWSSD), 1981-1990, global Planning Research cum Action Institute 565,000 villages throughout India policies and strategieswere evolved for (PRAI), Lucknow took up a research which were indentified as having water the effective planning, implementation project on rural latrines with the assis­ supply problems would be provided and monitoring of drinking water supp­ tance of WHO and Ford Foundation. with drinking water by October 2,1969. ly and sanitation programmes. The Since 1958 research work carried out The reality was that the number of vil­ IDWSSD programme was launched by by several other organisations such as lages with drinking water problems had Government of India in 1981 with a view the American Friends Service at Lud- not decreased.