Clean Water and Sanitation: Impact on the Indian Economy

Abstract

The following research paper looks into the Sustainable Development Goal number 6 which is

Clean Water and Sanitation and the Indian way of achieving the goal. The study investigates

budgetary allocations and the progress being made in key programmes launched by the

Government of India to assure clean water and basic sanitation facilities to each of its citizen.

The design of the study underlays the importance of water in our economy and life as a whole.

Thereafter, the study produces information about key government schemes to address the goal of

Clean Water and Sanitation. Furthermore, the paper also highlights a case study of a village in

Haryana and provides a key insight of the realities which the countryside of the nation faces and

how can it be resolved through government programmes. The conclusion of the research tells us

about the key challenges the Indian economy faces while on its way to achieve SDG number 6.

Therefore, in order to achieve the goal being discussed in the paper there needs to be a Bottom-

up approach in our implementation system rather than following an Up-down approach.

Introduction

All United Nations Member States in 2015, adopted The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable

Development. The agenda maps out a blueprint for peace and prosperity of the present and future

generations, and most importantly: it lays down the 17 SDGs, or Sustainable Development

Goals. These goals cover all areas from social to environmental. They include: No poverty, Zero

hunger, Good health and wellbeing, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean Water and

Sanitation, Affordable and clean energy, Decent work and economic growth, Industry,

innovation and infrastructure, Reduced inequalities, Sustainable cities and communities,

Responsible consumption and production, Climate action, Life below water, Life on land, Peace,

justice and strong institutions and Partnership for the Goals.

Clean Water and Sanitation

Amongst these, SDG 6, ensuring clean water and sanitation facilities to all is extremely

important as it is closely related to a) health, in terms of in terms of water-borne infections and

hygiene related diseases; b) food security, for irrigation facilities; and c) livelihoods for millions

of people across the globe, especially in the developing world. Thus, SDG 6 is not only just a

basic human right but can also be viewed as a measure of how a country’s human capital base

operates. (Bhowmick, Ghosh & Saha 2020)

Since water resources are essential for agriculture and industrial use, protecting and restoring

water-related ecosystems is critical. The goal includes improving water quality by reducing

pollution, substantially increasing water-use efficiency across all sectors, and strengthening the

participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management.

Goa and Lakshadweep are the top performers among the States and the UTs, respectively, having

secured a score of 100 on the SDG India Index for Goal 6. (NITI Aayog 2021)

Government programs and policies

Water according to the Indian Constitution is a State subject and thus the Central government’s

role is limited. The Constitution also mandates for devolution of power from states to local

bodies such as Gram Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies. The Central Government has framed

several laws and formulated policies and programmes at the national level and has been

implementing the same in consultation with the states. These include National Water Policy

(NWP) (2012), which is being revised, National Water Mission (NWM) of India (2008), Atal

Bhujal Scheme (2019) and Har Ghar Jal programme (2019). (Sarkar & Bharat 2021)

Budget:

For the implementation of Har Ghar Jal mission, the Government of India has allocated Rs

10,000 Crores in 2019-20 and Rs 23,500 crores in 2020-21 and Rs 50,000 crores in 2021-22 for

drinking water and Rs 10,000 crores for sanitation. (Sarker and Bharat 2021)
 Budget Allocations in the Water Sector
60,000

50,000

40,000

30,000

20,000

10,000

0
2019-20 2020-21 2021-22

Har Ghar Jal Drinking Water Sanitation

The amounts allocated towards the achievement of the SDG 6 have increased substantially to

properly address the problem. The government schemes of Har Ghar Jal, Nal Se Jal and Jal

Jeevan Mission are being implemented although there are still requirements of more grassroot

level participation. Several villages are being connected with pipes and water tanks but there are

several still where the effects of the schemes are not reaching. In some villages, a bottom-up,

decentralized approach is being followed where the local community, especially women are

encouraged to be involved. They are encouraged to play a key role starting from planning to

implementation and from management to operation and maintenance. ‘Village Water and

Sanitation Committee’ or ‘Pani Samiti’ have been formed and women are being trained to

conduct water quality testing using Field Test Kits (FTKs). (IANS 2021)
Case Study: Beholi Village

Beholi village is in the Kurukshetra District in Haryana. Kurukshetra is one of 22 Districts in

Haryana where, under Nal Se Jal scheme, each and every rural household has been provided a

functional tap water connection. Till December 2020, residents of this village had to cross the

village and get water daily in buckets. But, in December, a tap water connection was provided in

every household. The quality of the water is miles better from the one the residents used to get,

and it is also much more convenient for all the residents to access water now. The women benefit

a lot from this scheme specifically because it is often considered their job to walk across the

villages and fetching buckets of water. The other districts with 100% water coverage in Haryana

are Karnal, Ambala, Panchkula and Rohtak.

Similar tales can be told of districts in Punjab where districts of Rupnagar, Sahibzada Ajit Singh

Nagar and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar have reached 100% coverage. (ThePrint 2021)

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the critical importance of sanitation, hygiene and

adequate access to clean water for preventing and containing diseases. To preserve the global

environment, we need to ensure the three As of water and sanitation facilities: Accessibility,

Availability and Affordability. In context of the Indian Economy, the Government has been

taking steps to achieve this goal and substantial work has been done in this direction, but still it is

important ensure that access to clean water is not limited to the urban centres and big villages.

The decentralized approach of looking at the issue is useful, and the problem is being addressed

at all levels.
References:

Aayog, N.I.T.I., 2021, ‘SDG India Index and Dashboard 2020-21’ New Delhi

Bhowmick, S, Ghosh, N, & Saha, R 2020, ‘Tracking India’s Progress in Clean Water and

Sanitation: A Sub-National Analysis’, ORF Occasional Paper No. 250, Observer Research

Foundation.

IANS 2021, ‘Jal Jeevan Mission: Not yet “Har Ghar Jal” but getting there, one tap at a time’,

Economic Times. Available at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/jal-jeevan-

mission-not-yet-har-ghar-jal-but-getting-there-one-tap-at-a-time/articleshow/88582561.cms

(Accessed: January 2, 2022).

Sarkar, S.K., & Bharat, Girija 2021, ‘Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in water and

sanitation sectors in India’, Journal of Water, Sanitation & Hygiene for Development, 11 (5)

ThePrint 2021, ‘How Nal Se Jal is changing lives for women in rural Haryana, and bringing a

“culture shift”’, YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcqwZqR3BbQ

(Accessed: January 3, 2022).

School Code: 43, Strickers

Name: Jiya Jawa Name: Piyush Rangra

Class: 12 Class: 12

Email: jiyajawa@gmail.com Email: piyushrangra11d@gmail.com