Top Steps To Improve Rural Sanitation In India

Though India declared itself open defecation free, there is still a lot to be done on Sanitation especially on the rural side. Improved sanitation has significant impacts not only on health but also on social and economic development.

Some of the steps to be taken to improve rural sanitation are

1. The local authorities and the government should pay more attention to sanitation.

2. People should be encouraged to implement a rainwater harvesting system to collect and store rainwater for drinking or other purposes.

3. It has been noted that groundwater is contaminated in over 20 states. For instance, high arsenic contamination has been found in 68 districts of 10 states.

These states are Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Assam, Manipur, and Karnataka. Also, the Chemical contamination of groundwater has been reported due to deeper drilling for drinking water sources. Need for water quality laboratories to be set up throughout the country to test the water

4. Poor toilet facilities, waterlogging, and waste management are major concerns. Campaigns need to be organized for the maintenance of the constructed toilets. Providing sufficient water and connections for sanitation systems to work is of utmost importance. It should also ensure continued usage of facilities created.

5. The government should become more vigilant and must spread awareness regarding the proper disposal of waste and also improve the sewage system.

6. Roads and sewerage systems should be improved. Though steps have been taken for the cleanliness of roads and streets, waste is being dumped at colonies and water bodies which causes unhygienic conditions. The government with the help of people should start projects to use waste as renewable energy.

7. install solar-powered urine diversion toilets, portable tent toilets and two-pit compost toilets instead of normal Indian toilets should be installed and the use of sodium hydroxide or sulphuric acid to clean drains in houses should be encouraged. Public toilets must be constructed at appropriate places and workers must be assigned for their proper maintenance. People should be fined for spitting in the open.

8. Proper collection, containment, treatment, disposal, or recycling of fecal waste accumulated in septic tanks and pits should be ensured.

It is evident from the current situation that water and sanitation challenges are complex and that there is no single, simple solution to solve these issues. There is, thus, a need for an innovative and holistic approach that considers engineering aspects, as well as the incorporation of social, economic, institutional, cultural, and environmental factors in rural sanitation and wastewater management.