Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they have given to the government of India, and to the administrations of individual states, in the last three years to improve the quality of water and sanitation, and to end the practice of manual scavenging.

DFID’s portfolio of urban programmes work to strengthen India’s capacity to make cities cleaner and more sustainable for all – including provision for water and sanitation. We have partnered with the Government of Odisha to improve the state’s water supply. We have also partnered with the Government of India on its SMART cities initiative. DFID has not had any specific programming on manual scavenging in the last three years; however, the Manual Scavenging Act provides for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers through training in alternative employment. This is the right way forward and should be upheld. DFID is committed to work with India on urban and skills development.