WASH News South Asia
News feed maintained by information specialists from IRC and partners.
India: inadequate sanitation costs the equivalent of 6.4 percent of GDP
21 Dec 10
Inadequate sanitation costs India US$ 53.8 billion, which is equivalent to 6.4 percent of India’s GDP in 2006, according to a new report [1] from the Water and Sanitation Program (WSP). The study analyzed the evidence on the adverse economic …Continue reading →
Sri Lanka: Nestlé Lanka drinking water projects now serve 12,000 people
15 Dec 10
Nestlé Lanka has opened its 11th water fountain at Kuliyapitiya Central College in the island’s North Western Province. The fountain provides drinking water to more than 2500 students. This brings the total number of children and adults that have benefited …Continue reading →
India: Snakes and Ladders game teaches about challenges facing rural schools
26 Nov 10
Indian NGO CRY – Child Rights and You – has launched an online Snakes and Ladder game to raise awareness about the challenges faced by rural schools. The game includes messages about water and sanitation. A ‘ladder’ will advance you …Continue reading →
India: cabinet approves special plan for Naxal-hit districts
26 Nov 10
The Union Cabinet has approved a special development plan for 35 districts affected by Naxalites (militants) to address issues like sanitation and drinking water. Under the special plan, each of the districts would get Rs 250 million [US$ 5.5 million] …Continue reading →
India, Tamil Nadu: schools get water purifiers for safe drinking water
26 Nov 10
Thanks to a government scheme, many primary and high schools in Tamil Nadu’s Salem district now have installed water purifiers. For many village schools, however, the purifiers are of no use because they don’t have a water supply system. …Continue reading →
India: ‘We need a sanitation revolution here’, says adviser to Urban Affairs minister
26 Nov 10
Speaking at a workshop on the ‘City Sanitation Plan’ in Bangalore, the Adviser to Karnataka state Chief Minister on Urban Affairs A. Ravindra said: “We need a sanitation revolution in the country. There is a need to create public awareness …Continue reading →
India: Shekhar Kapur signs up as ambassador for Grameen water fund
11 Nov 10
Oscar-winning film director Shekhar Kapur has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Grameen Creative Lab to create an investment fund for water-related social businesses in India. Mr Kapur, who is passionate about water-related issues in India and is currently …Continue reading →
India: land of many cell phones, fewer toilets
07 Nov 10
In the wake of President Obama’s visit to India, AP journalist Ravi Nessman writes that “he will find a country of startlingly uneven development and perplexing disparities, where more people have cell phones than access to a toilet”. Interestingly, Nessman …Continue reading →
Bangladesh: Denmark and Australia sign MoU with Hygiene, Sanitation and Water (HYSAWA) Fund
04 Nov 10
Denmark and Australia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 24 August 2010 for joint collaboration and support to the Hygiene, Sanitation and Water (HYSAWA) Fund. The HYSAWA Fund provides direct financial and technical support to local authorities in …Continue reading →
India: former manual scavengers demand apology from government
04 Nov 10
Hundreds of former manual scavengers rose as one at New Delhi’s Constitution Club to demand an apology from the government for the wrongs done to the community. “Apologise now for the violation of our dignity,” they said. In late September …Continue reading →
