HANDBOOK ON SANITATION AND HYGIENE PROMOTION IN INDIA
The idea of bringing out a Hand book on Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion came in our mind after seeing the outcome of the 2011 Population Census. The initiation for the preparation of this book has been taken by Dr. K.A. Pisharoti, Health and Population Specialist and Dr. K. Balachandra Kurup, WASH Governance and Institutional Expert and Programme Director, IIWM who have over five decades of rich experience in organizing community involvement in the implementation of not only sanitation programmes but also health and family planning programmes. This handbook has benefited from the dedication and successful experiences of many individuals and organizations in sanitation, hygiene and health over the past few decades.

This handbook gives guidance on the implementation of water, sanitation waste management programmes in an integrated manner for providing a minimum universal standard. The handbook also seeks to identify common challenges and obstacles and how these can be overcome, in order to respond to the practical problems that States face in translating the importance of human rights to water, sanitation and waste management.
The authors want to convey to readers that this handbook has been developed as a supplement to the excellent publication Handbook on Gram Panchayat and Sanitation prepared by Ministry of Panchayat Raj, Government of India. A question can be asked—why this supplement? The main thrust behind the handbook is to develop the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) content of the Handbook to a social action for promotion of sanitation in three tier local government structures in the rural areas of our country as a whole. Experiences have show that social action has to be facilitated; in very rare cases it springs overnight. It is only in such an atmosphere that the authors feel acceptance and use of sanitation practices can be accelerated and moved towards achievement of targets fixed by Government of India under the Swachh Bharat Abhyan (SBM). While talking about targets, one should look back at the National health and family planning programme. The original target fixed in 1970 to achieve NRR one by 1995 for the whole country had to be shifted upwards every five years, and even today a number of states are yet to reach the replacement level of fertility. The authors are not sounding pessimistic; on the other hand they are expressing a word of caution. We also realize that today’s picture is different. The triple factor of rising female education, female participation in development and families moving above the poverty line will definitely contribute to the success of sanitation programmes. The Social Action approach built on the foundation of the Panchayat Raj system will work as a major facilitator for the successful implementation of ‘Swacch Bharat.’

The handbook provides a comprehensive approach based on the experience of all the people involved in the work. The hand book, when translated into local languages, will be an asset in the hands of all implementation agencies in the Block, particularly the Panchayat and village-level water and sanitation committees. This handbook will make a significant contribution to the national efforts to make Swacch Bharat a success.
Those who are interested in this handbook kindly contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Deepak Gadve: IIWMAdmin Bpl <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>