Tracer study of Unicef inputs in watsan sector : interim report

The involvement of UNICEF in Water Supply and Sanitation Decade Programmes in India has included both the supply of hardware and the development of indigenous technical capacity. The objectives of this tracer study are: to trace the deployment of UNICEF inputs in different States and to identify the features of the distribution process, to assess the current functional status of these inputs, to assess the level of utilization of these inputs and to identify the organizational features which influence the effective performance of these inputs. Survey supervisors conducted the field survey in ten states with one or two districts in each state being targeted. The four major categories of inputs identified for the tracer study are: equipment and instruments, promotional inputs, training and manpower development, and direct implementation support (India Mark II handpumps). This document contains an outline of the administrative and organizational features of the state agencies in the WATSAN sector and the results of the tracer study. Results from three sample states, Maharashtra, Orissa and Rajasthan, are presented in this interim report to indicate the type of information gathered and the output of the analysis of this data. Regarding the sanitation sector, both Maharashtra and Orissa have programmes for sanitation promotion supervised at state, district, block and village levels. Orissa has a sanitation supervisor trained in the demonstration of latrines; Rajasthan has trained village sanitation motivators who are assigned to use promotional materials to create awareness among villagers regarding correct sanitation practices. In assessing the availability and use of promotional materials, it was generally felt that the material was not adequate to meet the requirements - 50 sets of flash cards and 5 posters for a block was not thought sufficient to cater to all the Anganwadi centres. The study suggests that the provision of more visual aids distributed among villagers themselves will arouse the interest of the large illiterate mass in rural areas. The study calls for a greater variety of audio-visual aids including cassettes, T.V.s and VCRs, and promotional materials that depict scenes more akin to the lives of local people.