Decentralised Governance in Water and Sanitation in Rural India

Kush Verma (Ed.)‚ B.S. Bisht (Ed.)‚ Aidan Cronin (Ed.)

Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) impact health, nutrition and livelihood status of millions of Indians every day. Decentralised governance is a key strategy for enhancing efficiency, equity and justice in this vital sector. Improving governance is not an option; it is, in fact, ‘essential’ given the enormous challenges faced by India. The volume critically examines the decentralisation of governance in particular to the water and sanitation sector in rural India.

The book showcases leading voices—including those of academicians, practitioners and policy makers—from various parts of the country. It includes an introduction to the basic core issues related to the subject, present scenario in the country/specific states, practical examples for their resolution, moving on to broader aspects of good governance in the field, and finally giving implementable remedies. The volume is a useful compendium for practitioners, academicians, civil society activists and policy planners, and also the common citizens—the ultimate consumer of these services.

Kush Verma, an IAS officer of 1979 batch (Uttar Pradesh Cadre), is working as Director General, National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG), formerly known as the National Institute of Administrative Research (NIAR) under the ambit of Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie. He has executed and led various assignments in Government of Uttar Pradesh as well as Government of India.

He has published several papers in the field of general administration, development, labour issues and tourism etc. He has also presented papers in International/National Seminars and Workshops. He is currently pursuing his PhD from Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi.

B.S. Bisht is currently working as an Associate Professor at National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG), formerly known as the National Institute of Administrative Research (NIAR) under the ambit of Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie. He has a brilliant academic record and acquired his PhD from Kumaun University, Nainital. His academic interests include land-use planning, watershed management, WASH (water, sanitation and health), climate change and rural development. Dr Bisht has published several research papers in journals and books of national and international repute.

Aidan Cronin is trained as a civil and environmental engineer, and holds a PhD on water resources from Queens University, Belfast. He has worked in consultancy roles and then as a Senior Research Fellow at the Robens Centre, University of Surrey, UK, where his research examined the impact of anthropogenic activities on water quality in the EU and developing country settings. He then worked as a water and sanitation advisor at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in their Public Health Section in Geneva, Switzerland, where he reviewed the state of water and sanitation globally in refugee camps before joining UNICEF-India in 2008. He has published extensively on water, sanitation and health issues.