Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development (Sep 2021)
Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in water and sanitation sectors in India
Abstract
India, with over 1.37 billion population and housing one-sixth of the world's inhabitants, has a significant role to play in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper analyses the policies and programmes of the Government of India, towards the achievement of Targets 6.1 and 6.2 of SDG-6 that focus on safe drinking water and sanitation. The alignment of the policies and programmes is discussed in correlation of the output, outcome, and impacts on these targets of SDG 6. The Swachh Bharat (Clean India) Mission (SBM) launched in 2014 led the country with more than 98% of households having access to toilets. The Jal Jeevan Mission has the ambitious target of universal coverage of drinking water supply. While these programmes have led to the overall development, a vast scope of improvement in these sectors exists especially considering the growing population, economic activity, urbanisation, and climate change impacts. Analysis also shows that adequate quantitative and qualitative data on the implementation of the various policies and programmes would be instrumental in synergising the implementation of the SDGs. A systems-thinking approach for sustaining the efforts of the ongoing programmes and ensuring equitable benefits of development in the water and sanitation sectors in India is recommended. HIGHLIGHTS The WASH sector in India has witnessed massive transformation on the ground for better quality of life outcomes.; Progress in sewage, wastewater and faecal sludge management is necessary to realise targets of SDG-6.; Stronger enforcement mechanism and stricter implementation of policies is urgently needed for sustaining the progress made in the WASH sector in India.; Achieving SDG 6 and other SDGs will require imaginative management of trade-offs in a complex operating environment in India.;
Keywords
