Availability of pure water in rural areas
As per the latest information available from the NSSO 65th Round 2008-09 Survey more than 90% of the rural households have access to drinking water from protected sources. About 30% of rural households have access to piped drinking water from taps. Full coverage of rural habitations is about 75%, which is because of slippage of habitations which were fully covered earlier due to sources drying, sources getting contaminated, poor maintenance etc. In the Eleventh Plan, the focus is on sustainability in water availability, poor water quality, decentralized management of Operation & Maintenance by Panchayati Raj Institutions. At the same time the need to address equity in regard to gender, socially and economically weaker sections of the society and school children has been given due importance. This information was given by Ms. Agatha Sangma ,Minister of State for Rural Development in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
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