Draft report on monitoring and evaluation study in respect of rural water supply and sanitation in the State of Orissa

This draft report presents the results of a study sponsored by the Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission in which villagers in three districts of Orissa; namely, Nuapada, Mayurbhanj and Khurda, were interviewed to ascertain their opinions and perceptions regarding the acceptability, quality or other problems related to water supply and sanitation. Community involvement in the planning and implementation of water supply schemes and the operation and maintenance status of these schemes were also assessed. Findings from the survey are set out in a number of tables and, as well as giving demographic aspects, such topics as water usage patterns, technical aspects, distance from water sources, problems with water supply, hygiene conditions around the water sources, willingness of beneficiaries to be involved and the status of latrines in the villages are analysed. The survey shows that most villagers feel they are getting adequate water for drinking and cooking - 95 per cent from handpumps or public hydrants. In 20 per cent of cases, villagers were consulted about site selection, 12 per cent donated labour, and 5 per cent donated land, but no capital investment for rural water supply schemes was contributed by villagers and 60 per cent of villagers were not involved at all. Fifty per cent of villagers feel that local village committees should be formed and trained to ensure better operation and maintenance of schemes. Regarding the status of latrines in villages, only 7.6 per cent of houses have latrines, while 62 per cent of villagers are habituated to open air defecation and do not recognize that there is any environmental problem with this behaviour. The report recommends that the Government should work with villagers to install low-cost latrines in each house, villagers should be more involved in future planning and implementation of rural water supply schemes, the young men of the villages should be trained in the operation and maintenance of rural water supply projects, and that Awareness Camps for villagers should be held at least once a month to discuss health and hygiene issues.