Sanitation must for nation-building: Govt

Kathmandu, July 13

The government has developed Total Sanitation Guideline, which recognises sanitation as an integral part of nation-building.

Though stakeholders engaged in this sector continue to conduct post-open defecation free activities, appropriate use and maintenance of structures related to sanitation and behavioural development have become a challenging task due to deep-rooted superstitions, lack of awareness about the positive impact of sanitation on health and necessary infrastructures, negligence, incapability and poor monitoring by the local levels.

The guideline aims to enhance capacity as well as responsibility and accountability of all stakeholders related to education, health, water, nutrition, environment, women, children, climate change and disaster management.

The guideline is expected to promote utilisation of available services and facilities in a sustainable way by also considering the production and income generation activities as far as possible while expanding and upgrading waste, sanitation and hygiene services and user-friendly facilities. It also ensures water supply facility to achieve total sanitation condition, lays emphasis on proper management of sanitation in schools and health institutions, including various public agencies and organisations and public places to achieve total sanitation for all by 2030.

The guideline stresses the need to reuse garbage and faecal sludge as far as possible or dispose of them in accordance with the prescribed standard; and maintain hygiene and aesthetics of ponds, small reservoirs and rivers by protecting them.

“While conducting total sanitation activities in any area (rural municipality/municipality/district/province) under this guideline, WASH Plan of their respective areas will be formulated by incorporating WASH activities on the basis of local needs and discussions held among stakeholders.

Total sanitation programme will be a key component of WASH Plan in any area,” it said.