Statement by India at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group 27^th Session (1-12 May 2017) on Sanitation and Safe Drinking Water : 3^rd UPR of India. [Geneva, 4 May 2017]

Thank you Chair, India is committed to accelerating sanitation coverage and increased and better access to safe and sustainable drinking water to all. Consistent with the SDGs on sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, India has pledged to achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and to end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls especially those in vulnerable situations.

2. The Government of India has launched a campaign – Swacch Bharat Mission to accelerate efforts to achieve universal sanitation coverage, improve cleanliness and eliminate open defecation in India by 2019. This nationwide programme aims to facilitate community-led and collective behavioural change in practices of sanitation. This mission has increased the sanitation coverage in rural areas to 63.68% as of April 2017 from 41.80% in October 2014.

3. Similarly, Government of India is also implementing National Rural Drinking Water Programme to ensure sustainable supply of safe contaminant-free water to all households. It is targeted to cover 90% of rural households with piped water supply by 2022. The mission also envisages special water supply arrangement for difficult areas, hills and coastal cities including those having water quality problems such as presence of arsenic, fluoride etc.

4. For urban areas, Government of India has launched Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation to ensure water supply connections to all households. This will ensure augmentation of existing water supply and rehabilitation of old water supply network. To ensure sustainability universal metering, rejuvenation of water bodies specifically for drinking water supply and recharging of ground water is being taken on priority.

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