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India on sanitation- UN Report
Why is it in the news?
- According to a monitoring report by UN organisations, India has made great gains in providing basic sanitation facilities since the start of the millennium.
- India accounted for almost two thirds of the 650 million people globally who stopped practising open defecation between 2000 and 2017.
More in the news
Other Findings of the UN report:
- There has been absolutely no growth in the population with access to piped water facilities over that period.
- Also large inequalities remain between rural and urban areas.
- India has increased the percentage of its population with access to a protected drinking water source less than 30 minutes away, from 79% in 2000 to 93% in 2017.
- With regard to sanitation, India’s record has been better.
- The country is responsible for almost single-handedly dragging the world towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal of ending open defecation.
- The South Asian region, including India, accounted for almost three-fourths of the population who stopped defecating in the open between 2000 and 2017.
- Only 30% of the country’s wastewater is treated at plants providing at least secondary treatment, in comparison to an 80% global average
Government's response:
- Drinking water is now the highest priority of the development agenda for this government.
- India’s Swachh Bharat mission has been an example and inspiration to other countries, especially in Africa.
Source
The Hindu.