The administration in Pune district in the Indian state of Maharashtra has resorted to drastic measures to force people to install toilets in their homes. Civil servants who fail to comply will lose their house-rent allowance, while members of the public may be refused government loans or even land-ownership documents.

Under the Nirmal Gram Yojana sanitation programme, 566,000 toilets were to be built in the district but, according to Shyam Vardhane, chief executive officer of Pune Zilla Parishad (ZP) [district council], more than 200,000 still have to be built. Notices have been served to 50 ZP employees warning them to comply or face the consequences.

In November 2008, NDTV.com reported that anyone in Pune district without a toilet in their home 'would not get government loans or even crucial land ownership documents'. 'The new rule has come as a shock for those who can’t afford to build toilets in their homes,' said the report. 'A basic toilet costs over Rs 4,000 [US$ 81 = € 63] to build. And while Maharashtra does give some subsidies, it doesn’t cover the cost'.

Related news:

• India, Andhra Pradesh: lowest number of working toilets, Source South Asia, 19 Jan 2009;
• India, Sikkim: first state to achieve 100% sanitation, Source South Asia, 15 Dec 2008;
• India, Haryana: 'revolution' improves sanitation and defeats open defecation, Source South Asia, 12 Nov 2008

Source: Times of India, 02 Jan 2009; Imtiaz Jaleel, NDTV.com, 15 Nov 2008 (see also the video clip)

Tags: on-site sanitation, policies & legislation, south asia