New Delhi: Over 67 per cent of rural households do not have access to toilets, according to government data.
In reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today, Bharatsinh Solanki, minister of state for drinking water and sanitation, said in 2011 census, the figure of rural households without access to toilets improved to 67.3 per cent.
As per the 2001 census, 78.1 per cent of the rural households did not have access to toilets.
According to the 2011 census figures, Kerala had the least percentage of rural households without access to toilets a mere 5.59 per cent. Among the Union Territories, Lakshadweep had 1.66 percent of rural households without toilet facilities.
Jharkhand topped the list in such rural households with 91.67 per cent followed by Madhya Pradesh (86.42 per cent), Chhattisgarh (85.15 per cent), Orissa (84.68 per cent)and Bihar (81.39 per cent).
To fasten the sanitation coverage in the country, the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA) plan has stressed on Information Education Communication (IEC)and has also launched a Communication and Advocacy Strategy (2012-2017).
The financial incentives for constructing a toilet in rural areas has also been increased from Rs 3,200 to Rs 4,200.
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