20th October, 2003
Ministry of Rural Development  


KASHIRAM RANA LEAVES TODAY FOR BANGLADESH TO ATTEND REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON SANITATION


A high-level delegation led by Shri Kashiram Rana, Union Minister for Rural Development is leaving for Bangladesh today to attend Ministerial level Regional Conference on Sanitation at Dhaka from October 21-23, 2003.

The overall goal of the Conference is to accelerate the progress of sanitation and hygiene work in South Asia so as to enhance people’s quality of life, in fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals and the commitments made in the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg.

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are participating in the Conference with the objective to promote a regional initiative to improve sanitation.

Although much has been achieved in the last decade, the sanitation picture is still dismal in Asia. Only 39% of the population in South Asia, and 48% in East Asia and the Pacific, have adequate sanitation facilities. The event will bring together a number of ‘Country Papers’ that look at what is being done to counter the problems arising from inadequate sanitation coverage, both in terms of the approaches and the processes being undertaken. Papers will also outline a future Plan of Action that represents a series of stretching, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound commitments to formulating and implementing policy.

The Conference is being organised with financial and technical support of UNICEF and other development partners.