New Delhi, Feb 19, 2013: The Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation Shri Bharatsinh Madhavsinh Solanki chaired the National Consultations with State Ministers incharge of Rural Drinking Water Supply in New Delhi today.  In his address to the Ministers of State Governments incharge of Rural Drinking Water, Secretaries and officials of State Governments, representatives of Ministries of Central Government, representatives of multilateral agencies and non-governmental organisations, Shri Bharatsinh Solanki said that provision of

After right to education and information, citizens will soon get right to clean drinking water and sanitation. In a new draft National Water Policy, the water resources ministry has suggested that the access to safe drinking water and sanitation be regarded as a right. Around one-third of the Indians don't have access to clean drinking water and more than half of the country's population to clean sanitation.

Only 42.2% people in Jharkhand and 38% in Manipur have access to clean drinking water whereas in Punjab, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have nearly 90% coverage.

Sanitation is defined as safe management of human excreta, including its safe confinement treatment, disposal and associated hygiene-related practices. While this policy pertains to management of human excreta and associated public health and environmental impacts, it is recognized that integral solutions need to take account of other elements of environmental sanitation, i.e. solid waste management; generation of industrial and other specialized / hazardous wastes; drainage; as also the management of drinking water supply.
According to Census 2001, 27.8% of Indians, i.e.

The Third South Asia Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN 2008), organised by Government of India, was held in New Delhi, during November 16-21, 2008, with the theme as "Sanitation for Dignity and Health".

The Third South Asia Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN 2008), organised by Government of India, was held in New Delhi, during November 16-21, 2008, with the theme as "Sanitation for Dignity and Health".

"Handbook on Community-led Total Sanitation", written by Kamal Kar and Robert Chambers and published by the Institute of Development Studies Sussex and Plan India in March 2008, is a manual that contains comprehensive information on Community-led Total Sanitation, its pre-triggering, triggering and post-triggering stages, as well as examples and case studies from around the world, including India. The manual will enable communities to analyse their sanitation conditions and collectively understand the impact of open defecation on public health and their environment.