Dr. Ramachandran was speaking at a workshop organized by the Ministry of Urban Development to formally launch the National Urban Sanitation Policy (NUSP). He further stated that NUSP provides the necessary framework to states to approach urban sanitation in an integrated manner. It is encouraging to note that states like Maharashtra and West Bengal have taken the lead and are in the final stages of having an approved state sanitation strategy. Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh have also begun the process of developing a state sanitation strategy, he added.

The Secretary informed that Ministry of Urban Development has instituted Nirmal Shahar Puraskar, an initiative under the policy which aims at carrying out ratings of cities on various parameters related to sanitation and award for excellence in performance. The award focuses on creating healthy competition amongst the cities and mainstreaming sanitation. He mentioned that Ministry would support states to develop state sanitation strategies and city sanitation plans. Govt. of India and State Governments' support to ULBs will be increasingly re-oriented to reward the achievement of outcomes, which means moving away from the current practice of input and process funding where focus has been merely on hardware. With guidance and support of GoI and State Governments, the ULBs will be responsible for the implementation of the plan and the operation and maintenance of any created infrastructure, he added. Funding projects from existing schemes such as JNNURM and UIDSSMT will be encouraged. He said, “In addition, synergies with other schemes being implemented by MoUD such as the scheme for new satellite townships and counter magnet cities and 10% lumpsum provision for North Eastern states including Sikkim which provide funds for the creation of urban infrastructure facilities will also be attempted.

The Secretary informed that Ministry is also proposing a National Level Communication Campaign to generate awareness on sanitation both at the household level and at the service provider level. The aim of this exercise is to generate awareness of the benefits of a hygienic and clean environment and thereafter bring about behavior change. Dr. Ramachandran also referred to other initiatives taken by the Ministry i.e. the formulation of service level benchmarks in four core areas i.e. water supply, sanitation, solid waste management and storm water drainage. Some of the benchmarks in the sanitation area include complete elimination of open defecation, 100% coverage, adequacy and collection efficiency of waste water network services, reuse and recycling of treated waste water at least to the extent of 20%, redressal of atleast 80% of customer complaints within 24 hours, 100% cost recovery in waste water management etc. He stated that intention behind the formulation of benchmarks is to shift the focus from infrastructure to service delivery. “We intend ensuring that these benchmarks are complied with in respect of every project sanctioned by this Ministry as well as externally aided projects in this sector. We also intend monitoring the level to which benchmarks have been achieved”, he said.

The National Urban Sanitation Policy envisages transforming all the towns and cities of India into 100% sanitized, healthy and livable spaces - ensuring sustained public health and improved environmental outcomes for all its citizens. Special focus has been given to hygienic and affordable sanitation facilities particularly for the urban poor and women. “India's urban population stood at 285 million in 2001 (54 million households), of which 26% of the urban households did not have access to individual sanitation facilities and almost 50 million people were forced to defecate in the open.

Lack of access to sanitation for many households arises from a variety of constraints including economic, lack of tenure or space, forcing a large number of households to the continued indignity of open defecation. This has had considerable impacts on the health, well-being and dignity especially of women and children. Lack of hygiene education compounds the problem, and results in far-reaching health consequences for all urban dwellers. Through this policy Government aims to transform all the towns and cities of India into totally sanitized, healthy and livable spaces.

The National Policy was developed under the guidance of a specially constituted National Task Force and is a result of several stakeholder consultations including states, cities, experts, NGOs and civil society. The policy focuses on achievements of outcomes rather than on mere construction of infrastructure, and emphasises building capacities at the city level. The main components of the policy are:
i. Awareness Generation and Behavior Change - about sanitation and its linkages with public and environmental health amongst communities and institutions and promoting adoption of healthy sanitation practices
ii. Achieving Open Defecation free cities - promoting access to households with safe sanitation facilities with disposal arrangements; community-operated toilets for households constrained by space, tenure or economics; upkeep and management of urban public sanitation facilities
iii. Integrated City-Wide Sanitation - re-orienting institutions and mainstreaming and prioritizing sanitation in all urban management initiatives at the national, state, city and local level; extending access to proper sanitation facilities for poor communities and other un-served settlements
iv. Sanitary and Safe Disposal - of 100 % of human excreta and liquid wastes from all sanitation facilities must be disposed-off safely
v. Operation, maintenance and capacity building - promoting proper usage and maintenance of household, community and public sanitation facilities; strengthening urban local bodies to provide sanitation services by supporting need based capacity building and training at state level.#