India's national sanitation and hygiene programme : from experience to policy West Bengal and Maharashtra models provide keys to success

Abstract
Although progress is uneven, models in West Bengal, Maharashtra and elsewhere show how informed strategies, high people participation, strong monitoring and political determination yield results that can be scaled up rapidly. TSC provides a platform for innovation and creative solutions. Tamil Nadu - one of the leaders in school sanitation, hygiene education and gender concerns - is now joined by states including Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh to infuse the much needed qualitative aspects. As competition is fired by the national award, Nirmal Gram Puraskar, for measurably ending open defecation, the deeper issues of environmental safety, management of diminishing water resources, water less/low water technology options, standards for personal and household hygiene practices and gender-sensitive approaches, require culture-appropriate programmatic responses. TSC will now have to embrace far more than the basics to make water and sanitation goals achievable, sustainable and equitable.

Cite as: Ganguly, S. (2008). India's national sanitation and hygiene programme : from experience to policy West Bengal and Maharashtra models provide keys to success. In: Beyond construction : use by all : a collection of case studies from sanitation and hygiene promotion practitioners in South Asia. London, UK, WaterAid and Delft, The Netherlands, IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre. Available at: http://www.irc.nl/page/40450

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