Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS)

Using analogies that resonate with the rural mind, this Marathi film by  the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (Government of Maharashtra) makes a convincing argument for toilet construction and use.The film's content has been guided by Mr.

This standard operating procedure developed by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation includes all functions pertaining to disaster prevention, institutional mechanism, preparedness, early warning, relief, recovery and rehabilitation. It will apply to RWSS Department/ PHED/ PRED/ Sanitation Departments/ Board dealing with rural water supply and sanitation for natural disasters that the State is prone to. The standard operating procedure will not be applicable to nuclear, biological and chemical disasters.

It is intended primarily for programme implementers to help them understand the critical need for Community Sanitary Complexes and inform them of the guiding principles to be adopted while planning for these.

India remains one of the countries wherein concerted efforts are still required to eliminate the practice of open defecation. The lack of priority given to safe confinement and disposal of human excreta poses significant health risks manifest in the sanitation challenge facing the nation today. 

The provision of sanitation facilities through public toilet complexes is the most suitable option for those who cannot afford individual toilets for monetary reasons or due to lack of space, and opt for open defecation. Such complexes are a useful and valuable option at public places, markets, taxi stands, etc., where a large congregation of people takes place. The Community Sanitary Complex (CSC) fosters the cognitive development of healthy sanitation practices in the community.

This India Country Paper on Enhanced Quality of Life through Sustained Sanitation was prepared for South Asia Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN) IV held at Colombo, Sri Lanka in April, 2011.

In rural sanitation, India’s flagship rural sanitation programme, the Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC), continues to be implemented with renewed vigour, and improvements in multiple facets of the programme. The TSC programme was given a further boost with the introduction of the Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP), an innovative incentive scheme for Gram Panchayats, Blocks and Districts. The rural sanitation sector has continued to receive increasing budgetary support.

A huge number of links are present on these sites which provide access to various data and information regarding the status of rural drinking water & sanitation and related government projects.

This Operation and Maintenance (O&M) manual for rural water supplies by the Department of Drinking Water And Sanitation and Water and Sanitation Program of the World Bank complements their Gram Panchayat Handbook released in 2010 . It takes into account the current aspirations and challenges facing the sector, and builds on the framework already set out in the National Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) and Strategic Plan 2011-2022. 

Forwarded to the portal by: Sujoy Majumdar, DDWS through the

This document  is a discussion paper for the preparation of the strategic plan for the rural drinking water sector by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS).

Rajiv  Gandhi  National Drinking Water Mission, Department  of  Drinking  Water  Supply,  Ministry  of  Rural  Development, Government   of   India,  funds  research  and  development  project proposals  from established  institutions  and universities. The project must be related to rural drinking water and sanitation. Please see below the priority areas identified by the Department in respect to research and development in sanitation.

Delhi jal board act (1998)

The Delhi jal board act, 1998 aims to provide for the establishment of a Board to discharge the functions of water supply, sewerage and sewage disposal and drainage within the National Capital Territory of Delhi and for matters connected therewith. The Government after the issue of the notification under sub-section (3) of Section 1, constituted the Delhi Water Board by notification in the official Gazette.