EMERGING ROLE OF COMMUNITY IN RURAL SANITATION : A DEVELOPING COUNTRY PERSPECTIVE

Richa Babbar

Civil Engineering Department, Jaypee University of Information Technology Waknaghat,
Distt. Solan, H.P. (INDIA)

E-mail : richa.babbar@gmail.com

Received on July 29, 2009 and accepted on December 02, 2009

ABSTRACT

Growing population and increasing demand puts a challenge to policy makers in developing a strategy for a safe and healthy environment if the role of local community is undetermined. Statistics reveal that even with growing awareness and continuous efforts of world’s organizations towards improving sanitation and hygiene, about 80% of the world’s population is still without an access to sanitation lives in Asia. The effect is felt in increased risk of incidence and spread of infectious diseases, far from the control of local government and their strategies.
In the wake of International Year of sanitation 2008, this paper is an attempt to look into the underlying issues and constraints that concern the advocacy of sanitation principles in developing countries. Role of local community in rural sanitation initiatives is highlighted and a framework for their involvement in policy making is suggested.

Keywords : Hygiene, Water scarcity, Community waste, Policy making