Statement/ Intervention by India in the online consultation with Member States by Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, Mr. Pedro Arrojo-Agudo delivered by Ms. Seema Pujani, Second Secretary (1st December 2020)
India is steadfastly committed to the progressive realization of the right to safe drinking water and sanitation. Government of India’s flagship programmes in this regard emanate from a vision of inclusive growth and development for all Indians, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Phase I of the Clean India Mission was implemented from 2014 to 2019 as a nation-wide campaign aimed at eliminating open defecation through behavioural change and construction of household-owned and community-owned toilets; eradication of manual scavenging and scientific municipal solid waste management. Under this Mission, all villages, Districts, States and Union Territories in India declared themselves "open-defecation free" by 2nd October 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
To ensure that the open defecation free behaviour is sustained, no one is left behind, and that solid and liquid waste management facilities are accessible, Phase II of the Mission is being implemented presently.
The safety and dignity of sanitation workers is at the heart of the Clean India Mission. Despite the enactment of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013 and various judgments of the Hon'ble Supreme Court that prohibit hazardous cleaning, recurring cases of human fatalities continue to be an issue of concern.
On 19th November 2020, on the occasion of World Toilet Day, the Government of India launched a nationwide initiative to ensure that no life of a sanitation worker is lost again due to hazardous cleaning. Under this initiative, all sewer and septic tank cleaning operations will be mechanized by 30th April, 2021. It will focus on creating citizen awareness along with infrastructure creation for mechanized cleaning and capacity building of the workforce.
Government of India’s flagship Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide tap water connection to every rural household of the country by 2024. It seeks to ensure that every household has assured drinking water supply in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and at affordable service delivery charges leading to improvement in the living standard of the community, especially women and children. The process of assessing the progress made by different States and Union Territories in India towards achievement of the goal of universal coverage is underway. From 16.94% of rural households with tap water supply on 15th August 2019, the number has nearly doubled to 30.99%, as on date.
Despite the numerous challenges faced, especially post the COVID-19 pandemic, India is committed to the targets it has set for itself to realise the right to safe drinking water and sanitation for all Indians.
Thank you.
