The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti has officially partnered with the National STOP Diarrhoea Campaign, which was launched on June 24, 2024, by Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda. The initiative aims to combat childhood mortality due to diarrhoea through a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach.

Union Minister of Jal Shakti C.R. Paatil, highlighted the critical nature of this collaboration, stating, “The synergy between the rural sanitation mission and the National STOP Diarrhoea Campaign underscores our unwavering dedication to public health. Through these concerted efforts, we are not only aiming to reduce childhood mortality but also fostering a culture of health and hygiene across rural India.”

Secretary of DDWS, Ms. Vini Mahajan, emphasized the initiative's importance, noting, “This initiative is a critical step towards safeguarding the health of our children and communities. By integrating our efforts with the National STOP Diarrhoea Campaign, we aim to ensure that no child succumbs to preventable diseases like diarrhoea. Our focus on clean water and sanitation is pivotal to achieving this goal.”

The National STOP Diarrhoea Campaign is a targeted effort to achieve zero child deaths from diarrhoea within a two-month period. The campaign focuses on strengthening health infrastructure, improving access to clean water and sanitation, enhancing nutritional programs, and promoting hygiene education.

Complementing this initiative, DDWS has launched the ‘Safe Water and Sanitation’ awareness campaign, “Swachh Gaon, Shudh Jal- Behtar Kal,” running from July 1 to August 31, 2024. This campaign aims to raise awareness and promote safe water and sanitation practices at the village and panchayat levels.

Key activities under the campaign include community engagement through Village Water and Sanitation Committees, Pani Samitis, and local bodies to ensure community participation and ownership. Regular water quality testing will be conducted through Field Test Kits, with results displayed in anganwadi centers, schools, healthcare facilities, and community centers. Sensitization workshops will be organized by district water and sanitation missions to train local communities, government officials, and other stakeholders on water management, sanitation, and hygiene promotion.

Leakage detection and repair drives will be conducted to inspect and repair water supply systems, preventing contamination and conserving water. Public awareness campaigns will highlight the importance of water hygiene, safe sanitation practices, and the prevention of waterborne diseases. Special focus will be given to vulnerable groups, targeting children under five and the elderly to reduce the incidence of diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases. Educational initiatives will include workshops and training sessions for young mothers and adolescent girls on proper sanitation and hygiene practices, including the safe disposal of child feces and handwashing techniques.

The phased implementation plan of the campaign will span eight weeks. The first two weeks will involve the launch of the campaign, convergence meetings, water quality testing, and sensitization workshops. The following two weeks will focus on leakage detection and repair drives, public awareness campaigns, and cleanliness drives to ensure handwashing facilities with soap in institutions.

Weeks five and six will include residual chlorine testing, public awareness campaigns, and inspection of water quality in schools and anganwadi centers, with special drives for greywater management and fixing dysfunctional toilets in institutions.

The final two weeks will engage local communities, promote rainwater harvesting, and conduct special drives for the construction of Individual Household Latrines (IHHL) and Community Sanitary Complexes (CSC), along with door-to-door pamphlet distribution on safe water practices for health.

This concerted effort by the DDWS and the National STOP Diarrhoea Campaign represents a significant step towards reducing childhood mortality due to diarrhoea and improving overall public health in rural India. By advocating for and sustaining the Open Defecation Free Plus Model status in all villages, this initiative aims to achieve a Sampoorna Swasth & Swachh Bharat (Complete Health and Clean India).