Adequate allocation should be given to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector in the national budget for the next financial year 2023-24.
Despite the increase in allocation to this sector in recent years, various types of disparities remain. Overall, three types of disparities can be observed in this sector, which should be addressed. Rural-urban disparity, inter-urban disparity and less attention to some areas that are hard to reach, especially in the haor areas. All regional disparities in allocation need to be eliminated. Besides, allocation to WASH sector should be proportional to or higher than the size of ADP growth.
A press conference organized at the National Press Club on May 23 mentioned these. Several private organizations including WaterAid, PPRC, FANSA, FSM Network, Sanitation and Water for All jointly organized this press conference. At the press conference Prominent economist and PPRC executive chairman Hossain Zillur Rahman said that the 6th goal of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) is to ensure safe drinking water and sanitation for all. In order to ensure timely achievement of these targets, the annual development program (ADP) growth rate and allocation to the WASH sector should also be aligned with the development budget.
He said that it is important to give priority to regional disparities and the involvement of the concerned communities in the allocation of ADP in the national budget of the next fiscal year 2024-25. There is a need to address the disparity in distribution between urban and disadvantaged areas under climate risk including Char, Haor, hilly and other hard to reach areas.
Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman said that the allocation of ADP for WASH sector shows fluctuation and low proportional growth trend. The WASH sector targets in the SDG era are more complex and challenging than the WASH sector in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), now emphasizing safe drinking water and safe sanitation.
