The Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation Sh. Bharatsinh Solanki in a statement laid on the table of the Lok Sabha informed that under the centrally sponsored National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP).
To provides priority for coverage of all rural schools in the country with safe drinking water.
Under NRDWP, upto 67% of funds allocated/ released to the States could be utilized for coverage of habitations (including water–quality affected habitations) with safe drinking water in adequate quantity. Coverage of rural schools with safe drinking water facilities can also be funded under this component of NRDWP.
The fund sharing pattern for coverage of habitations as well as rural schools is 50:50 between Centre and State while it is 90:10 for North-Eastern States and Jammu & Kashmir.
The State-wise allocation, release and expenditure details of NRDWP funds made under NRDWP during the last 3 years and current year is at Annexure-1.
The statement showing coverage of schools as per DISE (District Information System for Education) data as on September 2012 maintained by the Ministry of Human Resource Development is at Annexure -2.
Governments of States can take immediate action as they are already empowered with powers to plan, design, sanction, implement and monitor rural drinking water schemes including provision of safe drinking water in rural schools.
In addition, following the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s order, all State departments dealing with drinking water supply have been directed to provide drinking water facilities in all rural schools immediately.
