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Published on: 07/08/2019

India

Building blocks India

Addressing the unavoidable building blocks

"While it has taken time for us to understand the requirements for using finance commission funds, the devolution of resources has helped our communities. Going ahead we will make better use of this." - Hemendra Pandit, Gram Panchayat (local government) representative from Bhagwanpur Kamla, Bihar

Hemendra Pandit is referring to how budget tracking has helped the rural local government to better understand the distribution and use of untied, centrally allocated funds. Knowing how to use funds for sustainable WASH services enables local governments to make better use of the budget available to them.

Along with the national think tank - the Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (CBGA) - IRC India has been working towards improving the understanding of civil society organisations (including local government representatives) on budget flows. We are implementing the intervention in Ganjam and Samastipur districts, in the states of Odisha and Bihar. This work aims to improve the governance and management of WASH services by building capacities to understand existing budgets and the best way to utilize them. 

In our focus block Chatrapur, in Ganjam district, Odisha state, we are carrying out assessments of existing capacities, across multiple tiers of governance, for the delivery of WASH services. Both exercises - budget tracking and capacity assessment – aim to empower civil society organisations, to effectively plan and advocate for their needs.

IRC collaborates with like-minded organizations in its work. In India, we are collaborating with WaterAid to implement the budget tracking work in two additional districts, one in each of the states of Bihar and Odisha.

India infographic

1 Purchasing power parity (PPP) is a popular metric used by macroeconomic analysts to compare economic productivity and standards of living between countries.
2 Water coverage percentages refer to services that are at least basic = improved source within 30 minutes round trip collection time.
3 Sanitation coverage percentages refer to services that are at least basic = use of improved facilities which are not shared with other households. These definitions applies to all country infographics.

Each of our focus countries have stories to tell. From supporting the development of master plans in our partner districts to running in the heat to raise awareness and motivate action for improved sanitation. Check our other country highlights for more stories.
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