Low cost sanitation scheme extended to 12th Plan

Government today approved the proposal to extend the ongoing scheme for erdication of dry toilets in urban areas into the 12th Five Year Plan with revised features and cost estimates.
   
According to the decision approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, Government would extend the financial support to the state governments for the Integrated Low Cost Sanitation Scheme.
    
The estimated cost for running the programme of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation is Rs 481.45 crore, out of which the central share would be Rs 367.33 crore and the rest will be borne by the State Governments and beneficiaries in the ratio of 3:1.
    
The cost ceiling has been realigned from the current level of Rs 10,000, fixed in 2008, to Rs 15,000 and enhanced support has been announced for adoption of eco-friendly technologies like bio-digesters etc.
 
The obnoxious practice of manual scavenging or engaging human beings into cleaning the untreated human excreta has been banned under the "Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrine (Prohibition) Act, 1993" which prohibits construction and/or maintenance of dry latrines and employment of manual scavengers.
   
During the 11th Plan period under the ILCS scheme, Government had provided financial support for conversion of approximately 2.52 lakh dry latrines and construction of 1.56 lakh new toilets to economically weaker section households who had no toilets.
   
All the states had reported that conversion has been complete. However, Census of India 2010 had pointed that out that nearly 2.08 Lakh latrines still exist in urban areas where the night soil is removed by humans. Out of this, more than 50 per cent, 1.06 lakh, exist in Uttar Pradesh only.