Page 1 of 10

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

e-ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 02 Issue 1

January 2016

Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 234

A Study on the rural sanitation in village panchayats: A

special reference to Nirmal Bharat Abiyan

“Sanitation is more important than Independence”

B.E.George Dimitrov ; G. George

1Assistant Professor Department of Political Science and Development Administration

Gandhigram Rural Institution- Deemed University Gandhigram-623402

2Research scholar Department of Political Science and Development Administration

Gandhigram Rural Institution- Deemed University Gandhigram-623402

Mahadma Gandhi

Introduction

India is a Gandhian land; he made

cleanliness and sanitation an integral part of

the Gandhian way of living. In his view

Sanitation is a habit for changing human

behavior. But now a day’s India is a home of

insanitation. Half of the Indian people in the

world do not have access to toilet facilities.

As per the 73rd constitution amendment act,

1992 describes the Panchayat powers and

functions in the 11th schedule in which rural

health and sanitation is one of the primary

functions of PRIs. Gram Panchayat have

fundamental role in the implementation of

sanitation schemes or programmes in rural

area. Rural sanitation scheme Nirmal Bharat

Abiyan is implemented through Panchayati

Raj institution, give incentives to rural

households for the construction of toilets.

Likewise construction of toilets are

identified as individual households, schools,

public sanitary complexes and anganwadis..

In order to change the people’s behavior on

health and hygiene, it is possible to attain

the goal of using toilets and make open

defecation free. Gandhi had an ideology

that everyone must use Toilets and clean

them by ourselves to promotes human

dignity every individual, and helps for

human development. We have fine

sanitation Acts and schemes which are

implemented by the government.

Countrywide 70% of the rural masses live in

villages, 65% defecate openly where People

are not aware about health and hygiene.

Gram Panchayat play a vital role of

promoting regular use of toilets, up

Page 2 of 10

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

e-ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 02 Issue 1

January 2016

Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 235

gradation of toilets, clean ensuring the

environment by the way of safe disposal of

wastes and provide the inter-personal

hygiene and education people.

Even today grams Panchayat are not

aware of their role and function in the issues

of sanitation, particularly on open

defecation. Lack of awareness on health and

hygiene are all leads to open defecation.

Open defecation affects the total health of

the communities and pollutes the entire

village environment. There are some basic

questions, whether open defecation is a part

of our culture or lack of accessibility

towards toilets? Open defecation is

practiced, on two reasons; firstly the

Panchayats are not aware about their role

and functions, in promoting health and

hygiene to the people. Secondly then

another one people are not aware about

health and sanitation. This study was

conducted in Karisal Pattai village

Panchayat from Dindigul district, Tamil

nadu. The village received the best gram

Panchayat award in 1998-1999. All the

infrastructural facility is provided to the

people by the Panchayat. That’s why the

government of Tamil Nadu has given the

best Panchayat award. Unfortunately after

few years the panchayat did not concentrate

on health and sanitation, where even today

people change their behavior and prefer

open defecation interested of using toilets.

People practice open defecation in the road

side, common fields...etc. This study is

essential to find the reason for why people

are using open space. what is role of

Panchayat to eradicates the practice of open

defecation, to elaborate people's perception

on open defecation in Karisal Pattai village.

Page 3 of 10

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

e-ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 02 Issue 1

January 2016

Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 236

Objectives

 To discuss the role of panchayat

and their involvement in

eradicating open defecation

 To elaborate people perception on

open defecation

 To find the status of total village

health and sanitation, availability

and accessibility of using toilets

Methodology

This study concentrate into two

different aspects, first PRA tools are used to

find the basic facility through transact walk,

it helps to find the availability and

accessibility of the sanitation facilities

available in karisal pattai village. Secondly

primary data collected from respondents

from village panchayat. Respondents were

Total Sanitation

Overall Infrastructure Sanitation of the Village

Individual Hygiene

Hygiene of Surrounding and

Hygiene Food

Proper Disposal of Human

Waste

Proper Disposal of Garbage and

Animal Waste

Proper Drainage

Purification of Drinking

Water