UNB, Dhaka :
There is a declining trend of allocation for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for the last five years in the national budget, shows an analysis.
The allocation for the sector in FY 2010-11 was 2.39 percent of the total budget that disappointingly came down to only 1.64 percent in FY 2013-14.
In fiscal year 2014-15, out of 199 projects, only 45
(22 percent) were found to be proposed for water, sanitation and hygiene sector under the local government division.
Although the ‘urban vs rural’ disparity in allocation has slightly been minimised in the 2012-13 fiscal year in comparison to previous years, it is not equitable yet. In the upcoming fiscal year, the ratio is 84:16.
However, the allocation in coastal areas is disproportionately low; only one-fifth of the urban allocation. Government investment in coastal areas is stuck at a very limited budgetary allocation despite incremental salinity infestation in drinking water.
This results in severe water and sanitation crisis for poor and marginal people; and impedes overall national development as well.
Eminent economist and Chief Adviser (Hon.) of HDRC Prof Dr Abul Barkat presented the research findings on allocation and utilisation of WASH budget in recent years at a post-budget discussion in the city on Wednesday.
International NGO WaterAid and Human Development Research Centre (HDRC) jointly organised a post-budget discussion demanding equitable allocation for WASH over geo-hydrological disparity.
The findings show that WASH budget allocation in last five years was heavily urban-biased. In contrast, disadvantaged and hard-to-reach areas like char, haor, hill tracts and coastal belt have not received adequate attention from the policymakers.
These pockets did not get proper share of the national WASH budget. To overcome this situation, Dr Barkat underscored the need for an equitable and inclusive WASH budget, feasible in terms of financial implication.
Hasin Jahan, country representative (acting) of WaterAid Bangladesh emphasised adequate and equitable budgetary allocation for implementing ‘National Strategy for Water and Sanitation Hard-to-Reach Areas of Bangladesh 2012’, especially for the coastal areas.
