Swachha Bharat Gramin: A budget analysis of India's sanitation program, Odisha State

This paper examines changes in spending patterns of Indian Government in the Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation for the period 2013–14 till 2015–16 and the thrust moving from drinking water to sanitation; it also examines the expenditure patterns of the different components in rural sanitation in the state of Odisha specifically. It traces the trajectory of increased budgeting of the GOI since 2014 on sanitation, but initially decreased spending in sanitation by the states, due to late release of funds; it also examines the sudden surge in expenditure in the states particularly Odisha in the area of sanitation from 2015–16 which translated into improved infrastructure and better coverage particularly in individual household toilets.

A component wise analysis shows the uneven patterns of expenditure with more investment on infrastructure, particularly household toilets which has no doubt helped in combatting open defecation, but low spending in areas like Information Education and Communication (IEC) and a complete neglect of environmental considerations by no spending in Solid And Liquid Waste management standing as obstacles in real behavioural change in the state of Odisha. The paper comes up with recommendations to review component wise spending and ensure greater convergence for better delivery.