Written by: vijaita-singh
2 min readNew DelhiSep 15, 2014 09:02 AM IST
First published on: Sep 15, 2014 at 02:58 AM IST
After unveiling a plan for toilets in rural areas, the NDA government has decided to extend the project in cities and towns.
The Urban Development ministry is working on an ambitious project that will ensure toilets to all the people living in urban areas.
The scheme is likely to benefit slum dwellers and people living in unauthorised colonies who do not have access to basic sanitation facilities.
According to the latest National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) data, nearly 12 per cent of urban population still does not have access to toilets and the government will give an assistance of Rs 10,000 per family to build toilets near their homes.
“We are giving final shape to the proposal of building toilets also in urban areas, specially slums. We will be soon moving the Cabinet and disbursing the money required to build toilets to each household through the states,” said Shankar Aggarwal, secretary, Urban Development.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already invited suggestions for the Swachh Bharat Mission to be launched on October 2 on Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday.
A senior UD ministry official said the plan to build toilets in urban areas will be done through the state governments.
“The states will be an important part of the scheme. The money allocated by the Centre will not be directly given out to households. There will be active state participation where we will give them incentives to encourage people with no access to toilets to build one,” said a senior official.
The government is also looking at innovative technologies to build toilets that do not occupy much space.
“A survey will be done through each municipal body and people will be made aware about the government’s scheme. The local municipal corporation will (also) be involved. There will be another layer of checks and balances to see the money is not misused or is embezzled. All these things are under consideration,” said an official.
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