“What is ailing sanitation sector in India?” written by Depinder S Kapur in November 19, 2007 published by WaterAid India for World Toilet Day, studies show that sanitation is the most neglected and most off-track of the UN MDG targets and is vital for poverty reduction and represents a driver for development.

Despite significant investments over the last 20 years, India still faces the most daunting sanitation challenge than any other country in South Asia. According to an estimate, India stands second among the worst places in the world for sanitation after China. Government figures claim that India is all set to achieve MDG 7 target 10, but still a vast majority of poor rural inhabitants remains among the unserved population. The rapid urbanization is putting a strain on already stressed urban sanitation systems in India. Slums are very rarely connected to cities’ sanitation infrastructure and the sanitation situation is deplorable. So what is ailing India’s sanitation sector?

This article tries to answer this question through experience in working with 50 civil society organizations across 9 states in India over the issue of increasing access to drinking water supply and sanitation. Effective implementation of sanitation schemes, increased civil society’s participation, enhancing financial allocation, monitoring progress and effective targeting seem to be crucial to achieving total sanitation in India.

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