Understanding Determinants for Sanitation Facility Adoption in Rural Area: - A Case Study of “Simrol Model Toilet” Project of Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

Open defecation has been a major concern in developing countries like India. Despite several government initiatives, the country is yet to achieve the target of hundred percent open defecation free (ODF) zone. In this context, the paper examines the role of local initiative for total sanitation. It studies a locally designed low-cost toilet project being implemented in Simrol village in the Indore district of Madhya Pradesh to understand the efforts made by the local government in making the Panchayat a complete ODF zone. Using the grounded theory, the paper argues that adoption of improved sanitation facilities has its own socio-economic and administrative determinants. It explores viability and rational of conditional measures being used in the implementation of a successful sanitation project. It also analyses reasons behind slow progress made by government sponsored sanitation scheme in the country. The paper concludes with highlighting the importance of low cost sanitation systems developed with local knowledge and resources in creating ODF zones in rural India and advocating the need to promote local initiatives in rural sanitation projects.