Indian School of Public Policy (ISPP) organised a workshop on ‘How political prioritization influences policies and their implementation: cases of WASH policies in India’. The workshop was conducted by Raman VR, Head of Policy, WaterAid India.

While opening the debate, Raman briefly touched upon some important examples of political prioritization in India such as the nationalisation of banks, telecom reforms, construction of Konkan Railways, Right to Education Act, NREGS, amongst others, and further focussed on how the impact of the recent high level prioritization of WASH policies in India and the Swachh Bharat Mission offers rich policy learning.

He further critically analysed the Swachh Bharat Mission, listed its strengths and highlighted various gaps in the policy, as well as program challenges that the SBM has posed for the nation. Besides the challenges faced, he also raised a number of policy questions and learning for future, with reference to such contexts. This was followed by a vibrant discussion and question answer session.

Pradyoth SB, a public policy scholar said: "Phenomenal transformation that has happened in the sanitation sector in India over the last five years.” Raman mentioned that though India had, indeed, traversed a long way, a lot needed to still be done as far as challenges in the sector were concerned.

(For more information, please contact: sarah@ispp.org.in)