Govt to provide Swachh Credit
Private sector should exploit the potential of the Indian sanitation market, estimated at US$60 billion by 2021, said Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
The government is working on four verticals to achieve the target of ODF which include fecal sludge management; rural piped water supply; grey water management and solid waste management, said Iyer at the ‘3rd FICCI-ISC Sanitation Awards and India Sanitation Conclave’ in New Delhi on 25 April 2019.
He further added that all this will require active participation of the corporate sector to invest in the treatment and waste management.
The government will also provide swachh credit facility to small entrepreneurs involved in the business of rural waste management, said Iyer.
He emphasised that the UN Sustainable Development Goal-6 of ensuring access to water and sanitation will be achieved mainly through the collective effort of all and partnerships.
“Persistence is very important to sustain all the gains for achieving ODF,” he said.
the government is working to launch the new standard ‘ODF Special’ after ODF++ which will provide complete solution standards, according to Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.
It is in the process of setting the benchmarks and ODF Special will be part of the next round of Swachh Survekshan, he said.
Mishra also added that under the Garbage Free City protocol, total 377 cities have been awarded 3 stars; 3 states with 5 stars rating and many are in the process for 7 stars.
“Today, we have more than 95% toilets coverage in the country,” said Mishra.
Nineteen states have made fecal sludge management policy, and this has led to lower cost in treating and managing the waste.
He highlighted that 23 States/UTs and 95% of 4,300 cities are ODF declared, total 377 cities have been ODF certified and 167 cities have been certified as ODF++.
Naina Lal Kidwai, Chair, India Sanitation Coalition (ISC), said “we need more financing from multiple streams, including direct financing, credit and micro financing as also impact-based financing.”
FICCI President Sandip Somany said that the chamber remains committed to support sanitation, especially the small and medium sector companies involved in this.
“FICCI-ISC is uniquely poised to galvanize the programme stakeholders into action not just for ensuring a sustainable open defecation free status, but also for addressing a host of sustainability measures,” he said.
Somany also presented the 3rd ISC-FICCI Sanitation Awards in six categories to corporates and individuals for their contribution in the area. fiinews.com
