SPEECH BY HON

Regional Conference on Sector Reform and Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) Projects in North Eastern States on 26^th and 27^th May 2003
Speech by the then Hon'ble Minister, PHE, Shri D. P. Goala on the Inauguration of the Conference

Speech by Shri Dinesh Prasad Goala, the then Hon’ble Minister, PHE, on the occasion of laying Foundation Stone of Sanitation Park on 27^th March 2003 at Betkuchi, Guwahati

Regional Conference on Sector Reform and Total Sanitation Campaign on 26th and 27th May 2003

A two-day conference sponsored by the UNICEF and organised by APHED was held in Guwahati on 26 th and 27 th May, 03 for the Sector Reform and Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) Projects in North Eastern States. The conference was attended by Sri Palat Mohan Das, Secretary to Govt.of India, Dr. R. C. Panda, Joint Secretary to the Govt.of India, Department of Drinking Water Supply along with other senior Govt. of India officials. The participants in the conference were the Govt. Officials and NGOs from the North-Eastern States. Resource persons from UNICEF, World Bank etc. delivered their valued lectures during the conference.

Govt. of India reviewed the Sector Reform and TSC programme for the North-Eastern States and tentative action plans for 2003-04 for the programme were finalised.

SPEECH BY THE THEN HON’BLE MINISTER, PHE, SHRI D. P. GOALA ON THE INAUGURATION OF TWO DAY CONFERENCE FOR THE SECTOR REFORM AND TOTAL SANITATION CAMPAIGN (TSC) PROJECTS IN NORTH EASTERN STATES ON 26^TH MAY, 03

It is indeed a great pleasure and privilege for me to be here to inaugurate the two days Conference for the Sector Reform and Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) programme in the North Eastern States. This conference is expected to provide a unique forum to discuss in thread-bear how to accelerate the pace of reform in Water Supply and Sanitation Sector. We are grateful Sri Palat Mohan Das, Secretary Government of India, Department of Drinking Water Supply for taking all the trouble to come here in spite of his extremely busy schedule to participate in the conference. We are aware about his deep concern regarding the development of North Eastern States and his commitment to promote the reform agenda in water supply and sanitation sectors. His valuable guidance will help us to steer the reform in WATSAN sector in right direction.

We are very glad that Dr. R.C. Panda Jt. Secy. along with other senior Govt. of India officials are also here to render their necessary guidance for effective implementation of the reform programme aiming to enhance the quality of life of unserved and underserved of the region in a sustainable way.

Shri D. P. Goala, Former Hon’ble Minister, PHE,

Govt. of Assam, inaugurating the Conference

Our heartiest welcome to all the Commissioner and Secretary and other officials and NGO of all the North Eastern States who have come here to participate in this very important Conference. I hope they will be immensely enriched by the deliberation of the Conference. The resource persons from UNICEF, World Bank, Ramakrishna Mission Narendrapur Gram Vikas and other organisation also are here I have no doubt there contribution in this conference will be able to accelerate the pace of the programme with appropriate sense of direction. My special thanks to UNICEF for sponsoring this Conference, without which it would not have been possible to organise this conference in this way.

In the state of Assam the present Government under the dynamic leadership of Sri Tarun Gogoi have given highest priority in providing safe drinking water and ensuring improved sanitation services to the rural masses. For effective and sustainable delivery of services with specific focus on meeting the needs of the poor, we are committed to empower the community to involve in the decision making processes to take responsibility for the services according to their choices and affordability.

Though Assam Panchayat Act, 1994 incorporating 3 tier system according to 73^rd Constitution Amendment was enacted in the state in the year 1994 but no election of 3 tier Panchayat Raj Institute could be held till our Government came to power. Only on January 2002, for the first time 3 tier Panchayat election was held in the State. Except in Autonomous Council area in the entire other parts of the state 3 tier PRI now have been put into place. Govt. of Assam issued instruction to transfer the responsibilities of 29 subjects including Rural Water Supply, Rural Sanitation Programme.

In all the reform programme of water supply and sanitation sector viz. Sector Reform, Swajaldhara, Total Sanitation Campaign we have taken steps to ensure the involvement of different tier of PRI institute effectively to legitimise decentralisation process. To build the capacity of PRI so that community can make informed decision regarding selection of viable technological options and to their choices and affordability using local knowledge and information is the most challenging and priority task.

For carrying out capacity building related activities, besides UNICEFF support we have been availing the benefit of Govt. of India sponsored Human Resource Development programme to a great extent. Discontinuation of HRD programme by Govt. of India from current financial year posed a serious problem, I request Govt. of India to review their decision and continue the HRD programme for the best interest of the sector.

As N.E. states are far from the mainstream of the country having serious communication bottlenecks, dissemination of information regarding various development of technological options and transfer of skill which are most essential to facilitate community involvement is a major problem. N.E. states are inhabited by people of various tribes, different religion and diversified culture having different knowledge, attitud l respect. WHO agreed to provide financial support for setting up Sanitation Park within the campus of centre. The Park is expected to be completed by October 2003 where we will be able to display the full size model of technological options for sanitation. With UNICEF assistance we are proposing to set up technological park to display detailed technological options related with water supply .We need G.O.I support to strengthen the centre and to make the centre functional .I like to draw personal attention of Secretary (DWS) in this regard.e and practices. Proper documentation, analysis and need base value addition may help in popularising many traditional practices which may have better acceptability and sustainability.

Keeping the requirements of such need in view we are trying to set up a Research cum Training Centre for the WATSAN Sector which can also cater the need of entire NE states. The suggestive activities proposed to be taken up by the Centre are:

i) Compiling, developing and displaying different situation and site specific options not only for water supply and environmental sanitation but also for hygiene practices. Which can help the users community to make informed decision.

ii) Facilitating appropriate process for exchange and sharing of information and best practices among the various states of the region to accelerate the pace of reform over coming the mental block.

iii) Review of existing design and listing innovative design.

iv) Assessment of capacity building needs development of innovative methods technique and tools for imparting training.

v) Imparting training for master trainer.

vi) Capturing, compilation and disseminate of relevant information.

vii) Establishing network with line departments and institution working in WATSAN Sector for synergy of Action.

The civil construction of the ground floor of the centre is complete in al

In the state of Assam for last more than decade we have been continuously piloting various reform strategies to harness users own initiatives and resources for ensuring sustainable and better services in the rural water supply and rural sanitation sector with lesser fiscal burden on state exchequer. Few of the important initiatives in this regards are:

· Entrusting the responsibility of cost-sharing of O & M of piped water schemes to the registered users groups.

· Imparting extensive training to women caretaker to facilitate the process of Village Level Operation and Maintenance (VLOM) of Hand-Pumps.

· To tackle fluoride problem in three districts of Assam which have been detected only after 1999, a Joint Action Plan in collaboration with UNICEF have been developed based on multipronged strategies and participatory principles. Important components of strategies are extensive water quality survey including private sources, dental survey in schools, house to house health survey, generating awareness regarding nutritional intervention, transferring technology for manufacturing domestic filter at village level, creating fluoride free alternate source of water for drinking and cooking popularising concept of dual water supply. There have been growing realisation, on a sustainable way, government alone can not solve such problem but people can.

To develop a viable and sustainable system of environmental sanitation, since 1992 Assam Public Health Engineering Department (APHED) with UNICEF and Govt. of India support launched pilot-cum-demonstration project on “Intensive Sanitation Programme (ISP) in Kamrup” district of Assam. The ISP had a demand responsive approach to deliver cost-effective models of sanitary latrines to the willing households. A range of (sanitary) latrine models was innovated to cater to households spread across different income groups. The latrines were manufactured locally and delivered from retail counters called Production Centres established at the block level. The Production Centres were managed by the Kamrup District Cell of the PHED. A District Level Manager was in charge of the programme. IEC campaigns were developed to educate the population about merits of the use of sanitary latrines, process of procurement of latrines and the price range/ mode of payments. In 1997-98, the Production Centres were converted to Rural Sanitary Marts and were handed over to the NGOs for implementing the programme. Currently there are 12 Sanitary Marts in Kamrup district. 30 villages of the Kamrup district have been fully sanitised. Capitalising the lessons learned from pilot initiatives similar strategy by now has been replicated to 16 districts out of 23 districts.

At present 50 nos. Sanitation Mart set up in those 16 districts with UNICEF support. These Sanitation Marts are managed by NGO. Through these Sanitation Marts, about 22,000 Household latrines are getting constructed without any subsidy.

We are committed to ensure for our children a safe healthy and child friendly school providing potable drinking water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in all the Primary and Upper Primary schools.

The UNICEF supported School Sanitation in Assam was initiated by the PHED in Kamrup district in 1997-98. During Phase I (1998-2000), 738 schools were covered and during Phase II upto 2002, 2954 schools are being covered with water and sanitation facilities. On completion of Phase II by the middle of 2003, it is expected that all primary schools of Kamrup district will be covered by water and sanitation facilities. Another 1800 schools have been taken up in 9 flood-affected districts where drinking water through hand pumps has been provided so far. Through this programme, a toilet block compromising of two urinals and one latrine is provided along with drinking water facilities. The programme is delivered in a decentralised manner through the school committee under the guidance of PHED.

For effective co-ordination and to develop policy issues and guidelines State Level Task Force is being constituted on January, 2003. One of the key responsibilities of the Task Force is to converge relevant programmes to fund the project adequately.

Meanwhile with active co-operation of UNICEF we have developed Draft Master Plan of Action for School Sanitation Programme in Assam.

For successful implementation of water supply, sanitation and hygiene programme in school we need active support of the Government of India.

In Sector Reform and TSC programme we have certain initial problems as Panchayat Raj Institute are new and there are certain problems in arranging State share for TSC programme. We have been able to sort out the issues and we are hopeful that we will be able to expedite the progress. We have got very good response from the community for Swajaldhara Projects. Large number of communities have come forward for cost sharing and taking the responsibility of operation and maintenance for schemes. We request Government of India to approve all the project and provide for requisite fund.

I am inaugurating the conference wishing it all the success.

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SPEECH BY SHRI DINESH PRASAD GOALA, THE THEN HON’BLE MINISTER, PHE ON THE OCCASION OF LAYING FOUNDATION STONE OF SANITATION PARK ON 27^TH MARCH 2003 AT BETKUCHI, GUWAHATI

I am extremely happy to be here and getting this opportunity for laying the foundation stone of “ Sanitation Park” a unique and innovative project to be developed with financial assistance from World Health Organization (WHO).

I am sincerely thankful to WHO for agreeing to support the initiative, our thanks also to Govt. of India for recommending our proposal for WHO’s support I welcome Sri A.K. Sengupta of WHO, he has taken all the trouble to come here from Delhi to be present in this inauguration function Sri Sengupta’s guidance in the development of this park will be of immense help. I have been told this is for the first time Assam Public Health Engineering Department in partnership with WHO has taken up such initiatives keeping in view of the requirement of entire N.E. States.

Shri D. P. Goala, Former Hon’ble Minister,PHE, Govt. of Assam, laying foundation stone of Sanitation Park at Betkuchi

The present Government under the dynamic leadership of Sri Tarun Gogoi have given highest priority in providing safe drinking water and ensuring improved sanitation services to the rural masses aiming to enhance quality of life of most vulnerable section of the society.

Promoting “Environmental Sanitation” as a package is the primary focus of the rural sanitation programme. An effective Environment Sanitation programme should be able to address the issues to reduce the probability of people’s exposure to diseases providing hygienic environment and taking measures to break the cycle of diseases by improved management of human, animal and domestic wastes. WHO’s concern in this regard also well known.

Government policy with regard to rural sanitation has undergone a major shift over the past few years. It has moved away from the subsidy based to a more demand based strategy. At present Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) programme for supporting sanitation emphasized to make the programme community led and people centered. The main features of Total Sanitation Campaign (i) shift from high subsidy to low subsidy regime (ii) greater household involvement and participation (iii) technology options as per choice and affordability of the house hold (iv) stress on Information, Education and Communication. Govt. role to be changed from provider to facilitator. To enable people to make inform decision regarding location specific technological option according to their choices and affordability dissemination of information is the most important activity of the facilitation.

Dissemination of information displaying full size models through Sanitation Park expected to have effective out come Govt. of India for the state of Assam approved Total Sanitation Campaign in 11 nos. of districts at provisional estimated cost of Rs. 2823.36 lakh and released Rs. 543.60 lakh. We have taken all steps for effectively implementing the programme adopting decentralized approach involving Panchayat Raj Institutes (PRI). As you are aware the election for the 3 tier system of PRI held for the first time in the State on January 2002. The present Government already devolved the functions of 29 subject including drinking water and sanitation to the PRI. To discharge their assigned responsibilities PRI need capacity building. Assam Public Health Engineering Department have taken up steps for capacity building of PRI. In this context the Sanitation Park which will be developed with WHO’s assistance will accelerate the pace of acquiring competency.

As N.E. states are far from the mainstream of the country, dissemination of information regarding various possible technological options adopted in various parts of the country a major challenge. N.E. states are also habited by people of various tribes, different religion and diversified culture having different sanitation and hygienic practices. For a sustainable Sanitation Programme there is a need of proper documentation of such practices and suggest modification where ever necessary so that many traditional practices also can be improved, which may have better acceptability.

I have no doubt setting up of ‘ Sanitary Park’ will be able to help effectively in driving community based development approach, promoting local action by providing information displaying various models.

The Park is expected to be ready by October 2003, with the setting up of ‘Sanitation Park’ we will make important steps towards making our “Research cum Training Center” functional. Some of the major suggestive activities of the Research cum Training Center are :-

i) Compiling, developing and displaying different situation and site specific options not only for water supply and environmental

sanitation but also for hygiene practices. Which can help the users community to make informed decision.

ii) Facilitating appropriate process for exchange and sharing of information and best practices among the various states of the region to accelerate the pace of reform over coming the mental block.

iii) Review of existing design and listing innovative design.

iv) Assessment of capacity building needs development of innovative methods technique and tools for imparting training.

v) Imparting training for master trainer.

vi) Capturing, compilation and disseminate of relevant information.

vii) Establishing network with line departments and institution working in WATSAN Sector for synergy of Action.

The Civil construction of ground floor of the center is complete in all respect. Availing UNICEF assistance we are proposing to set up a technological park to display various component related with water supply.

I request Sri Sengupta of WHO to consider further assistance in developing this institute, to help us in strengthening technical and managerial capacity of different tiers of local governments and the communities.

Thank you all.

JAI HIND.

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