DECENTRALISED AND LOCALE-SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION PROGRAMME IN ANCHUTHENGU - A COASTAL PANCHAYAT IN KERALA

Funding Agency: Kerala Research Programme on Local Level Development, Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram

The health and sanitation scenario in coastal areas is entirely different from other locations. In Anchuthengu environmental factors are the major reasons for most of the health problems. The control of infectious diseases depends to a large extent on safe drinking water supply, provision of basic sanitation, waste management, proper shelter and better awareness of hygienic behaviour. Another most obvious reason was poverty. The present project envisaged to identify the environmental sanitation scenario in Anchuthengu area and to formulate programmes and activities for Total Sanitation and thus to Total Health of the area. It also envisaged to develop a pilot scale model for coastal environmental sanitation that can be replicated in other coastal areas of Kerala. The major objectives of the project were to collect and collate information on various aspects of environmental sanitation prevailing in the area and to prepare an environmental sanitation status report for the panchayat, to formulate an action plan for environmental sanitation programme with community participation , to implement some of the selected components of the programmes identified in the action plan like community solid waste management, waste water control and treatment, waste land improvement and control of polluting discharges etc., in one of the identified hygienically hot spot areas of the study region and to develop an Information System to facilitate information regarding available solid and liquid treatment technologies and management practices and a Development Information System comprising information of health, sanitary and drainage facilities, socio-economic and ecological aspects of the study region to aid in future planning exercises.

Detailed study was conducted to identify the various Environmental Sanitation needs of the Panchayat and an Action Plan was prepared for implementing various sanitation components. Construction of individual sanitary latrines for households, community latrine system, an exclusive sanitary complex with facilities for water supply, bathing washing and sanitation were proposed. In the case of solid waste management, the approach should be based on decentralisation, community participation, local specific technologies and convergence of activities of various volunteer agencies. The household waste are to be managed there itself or be collectively managed at the community level. Small units, which can process the sewage from a small region can be implemented. Recycling and bio-methanation options are also be considered. Specific areas can be identified and set apart for depositing wastes, proper drainage facilities can be provided to collect and dispose wastewater.