WASH - 'Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.'

6. 'To ensure effective implementation of policies addressing water, sanitation and hygiene needs, the identification of beneficiary segments is to be synchronised with the anticipated outcomes'. Examine the statement in the context of the WASH scheme. (150 words) 10 M

Ans. WASH is an acronym that stands for 'Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.'

WASH scheme of the UNICEF is run by a team that works in over 100 countries worldwide to improve water and sanitation services. Last year, UNICEF's efforts provided nearly 14 million people with clean water and over 11 million with basic toilets.

Several international development agencies assert that attention to WASH can also improve health, life expectancy, student learning, gender equality, and other important issues of international

development. Access to WASH includes safe water, adequate sanitation and hygiene education. This can reduce illness and death, and also reduce poverty and improve socio-economic development.

In the Indian context the ideals of this schemes are fulfilled by the plans and schemes like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Namani Gange Programme etc. These projects are giving emphasis to the beneficiaries and the anticipated outcomes like they are using SECC (Socio-Economic Caste Census) data and also aligning the needs of groups like living closer to the rivers, girls in schools, manual scavengers etc.

The outcomes of the projects are also monitored regulated as the goal for opendefecation free India is fixed for 2019.

These projects have really performed well in the recent years as the rate of open defecation has reduced in the rural areas and many states like Sikkim and Kerala have become open

defecation free.