Rural sanitation programme in Kerala

The Rural Sanitation Programme in Kerala, India, was only taken up in a concerted manner around 1986. In the period 1987-1992 over 180,000 latrines have been constructed, of which 14,500 by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and 8,000 by the Dutch-Danish supported Socio-Economic Units. At the current rate it will take over 100 years to reach 100 per cent coverage. The following recommendations are made to reach full coverage within 15-20 years: better coordination is needed between implementing agencies; alternative, cheaper latrine designs should be developed; more emphasis should be placed on the quality of constructed latrines; more emphasis should be placed on education and awareness; more funds should be attracted from NGOs and donors; credit schemes at concessional rates should be arranged; newly constructed public buildings should be enforced by law to include public latrines; and, the State Sanitation Cell of the Department of Rural Development should be given some degree of autonomy.