Individual Household Latrine under Total Sanitation Campaign

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs June 02 approved the upward revision in the incentive amount to a Below Poverty Line (BPL) household for construction of one unit of Individual Household Latrine (IHHL) from existing Rs.2200 (Rs 2700 for difficult and hilly areas) to Rs 3200 (Rs 3700 for difficult and hilly areas). The central share out of this shall be Rs 2200 (Rs 2700 in case of hilly and difficult areas) and State Government share shall be Rs 1000. Minimum beneficiary share shall be Rs.300. State Governments are allowed the flexibility to provide higher incentive for a household toilet, of the same or higher unit costs from their own funds. The BPL household may also contribute towards value addition to the basic unit at its own expense.

The date of implementation for the revised rates of the incentives would be with effect from 01.06.2011.

The increase in incentive amount is expected to have an additional financial implication to the tune of Rs 1348.26 crore approximately on the Central Government. The State Governments together shall also have to bear an additional financial expenditure of Rs 577 crore approximately.

The revision in the incentive amount being provided to individual households below poverty line is expected to accelerate the pace of construction of these toilets thereby resulting in better sanitation coverage in rural areas of the country. It is expected that all rural households shall have access to sanitation facilities by March 2015.

Background:

Improved sanitation and safe drinking water are the most important elements for improvement in the health conditions of the rural population their development and welfare. Under the centrally sponsored Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) launched by the Government of India, the main focus has been given on enabling each and every rural household in getting access to improved sanitation through individual household latrines.

The Government has so far motivated 7.14 crore rural households to create sanitation facilities which includes incentives to 3.85 crore BPL households.