Spatial Disparity in Access to Improved Source …
179
Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh were observed to have poorer water facilities. Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh had poor water facility in the
period of 2007–2008, however, all of them showed significant improvement in the
facility after eight years. The results indicate that the strategic approach of the administration and the sweats of focusing on low performing states are paying off. These
notable accomplishments are the effect of countless initiatives of the Government
[14]. The community-wide National Rural Health Mission effective in the period of
2005–2012 might have assisted in reducing the spatial disparities. The noted reduction may also be an outcome of the state government schemes like Punjab rural water
supply and sanitation project [20]. The solid waste disposal concessions awarded to
50 municipal corporations including the one in Kolhapur District of Maharashtra
would have contributed to the improvement in the water and sanitation facilities in
Maharashtra [3]. The influence on improved water and sanitation could be a result
of numerous other national and international schemes including the second phase
of community-led infrastructure finance facility-2015 [21] and sulabh international
[22]. Studies [23] reveal that a substantial percentage of underprivileged was found
interested to invest in water and sewer network connection reflecting the alert and
informed behavior of residents. This information can further help in implementing
targeted intervention programs to achieve the sustainable development goal.
Although the present study tried to address the spatial disparity in access to
drinking water and sanitation facility at the district level based on the available data
and spatial analytical techniques, there are certain limitations in this study. The use
of aggregate district-level data can lead to ecological fallacy and hence the findings
cannot be generalized at an individual or household level. The limitations associated
with the data collection method of DLHS-3 and NFHS-4 are also the limitations of
this study.
The present study has attempted to provide a visual description of the spatial
disparity in accessibility of drinking water and sanitation facility in the districts of
India. The exploratory maps and spatial cluster analysis performed in this study
are useful in locating the districts that lack access to drinking water and sanitation
facility. On a priority basis, interventions should be channeled to the most affected
districts in India, as revealed in the presented study.
References
1. Bessong PO, Odiyo JO, Musekene JN, Tessema A (2009) Spatial distribution of diarrhoea and
microbial quality of domestic water during an outbreak of diarrhoea in the Tshikuwi community
in Venda, South Africa. J Health Popul Nutr 27(5):652
2. Nath K (2003) Home hygiene and environmental sanitation: a country situation analysis for
India. Int J Environ Health Res 13(supp 1):S19–S28
3. Van MH, Hung NV (2011) Economic aspects of sanitation in developing countries. Environ
Health Insights 5:63–70
4. Nilima, Kamath A, Shetty K, Unnikrishnan B, Kaushik S, Rai SN (2018) Prevalence, patterns,
and predictors of diarrhea: a spatial-temporal comprehensive evaluation in India. BMC Public
179
Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh were observed to have poorer water facilities. Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh had poor water facility in the
period of 2007–2008, however, all of them showed significant improvement in the
facility after eight years. The results indicate that the strategic approach of the administration and the sweats of focusing on low performing states are paying off. These
notable accomplishments are the effect of countless initiatives of the Government
[14]. The community-wide National Rural Health Mission effective in the period of
2005–2012 might have assisted in reducing the spatial disparities. The noted reduction may also be an outcome of the state government schemes like Punjab rural water
supply and sanitation project [20]. The solid waste disposal concessions awarded to
50 municipal corporations including the one in Kolhapur District of Maharashtra
would have contributed to the improvement in the water and sanitation facilities in
Maharashtra [3]. The influence on improved water and sanitation could be a result
of numerous other national and international schemes including the second phase
of community-led infrastructure finance facility-2015 [21] and sulabh international
[22]. Studies [23] reveal that a substantial percentage of underprivileged was found
interested to invest in water and sewer network connection reflecting the alert and
informed behavior of residents. This information can further help in implementing
targeted intervention programs to achieve the sustainable development goal.
Although the present study tried to address the spatial disparity in access to
drinking water and sanitation facility at the district level based on the available data
and spatial analytical techniques, there are certain limitations in this study. The use
of aggregate district-level data can lead to ecological fallacy and hence the findings
cannot be generalized at an individual or household level. The limitations associated
with the data collection method of DLHS-3 and NFHS-4 are also the limitations of
this study.
The present study has attempted to provide a visual description of the spatial
disparity in accessibility of drinking water and sanitation facility in the districts of
India. The exploratory maps and spatial cluster analysis performed in this study
are useful in locating the districts that lack access to drinking water and sanitation
facility. On a priority basis, interventions should be channeled to the most affected
districts in India, as revealed in the presented study.
References
1. Bessong PO, Odiyo JO, Musekene JN, Tessema A (2009) Spatial distribution of diarrhoea and
microbial quality of domestic water during an outbreak of diarrhoea in the Tshikuwi community
in Venda, South Africa. J Health Popul Nutr 27(5):652
2. Nath K (2003) Home hygiene and environmental sanitation: a country situation analysis for
India. Int J Environ Health Res 13(supp 1):S19–S28
3. Van MH, Hung NV (2011) Economic aspects of sanitation in developing countries. Environ
Health Insights 5:63–70
4. Nilima, Kamath A, Shetty K, Unnikrishnan B, Kaushik S, Rai SN (2018) Prevalence, patterns,
and predictors of diarrhea: a spatial-temporal comprehensive evaluation in India. BMC Public