Business Desk :
Experts have urged the government to reduce inequalities in allocation for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in rural and urban areas in the National Budget 2021-2022 and to increase allocation to address the overwhelming challenges posed by Covid-19.
“Current Covid-19 infections in border districts have shown us the importance of equal distribution of allocation in WASH sector, especially in the hygiene sector,” said Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, chairman of the Power and Participatory Research Centre (PPRC), at a pre-budget virtual press conference on Sunday.
WaterAid, Unicef, PPRC, Freshwater Action Network South Asia – Bangladesh (FANSA-BD), FSM Network, Sanitation and Water for All, WASH Alliance and MHM Network jointly organised the programme.
Hossain Zillur Rahman said, “Covid-19 has increased disparities and gaps in many forms. Addressing inequalities within the WASH sector is a must to continue the commendable progress the government has demonstrated in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.”
In the 2016-2017 budget, 20% of WASH budget was allocated for rural areas. In 2020-2021, it came down to 17%.
