This discussion paper by Global Water Forum sheds light on the progress on access to safe water and sanitation targets of Millennium Development Goals.  In the beginning the paper states that estimation on access to improved water supply shows positive results, whereas the story for sanitation remains poor.

Majority of population still resort to open defecation. This group of population are more in numbers in the states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa. Given the grim situation on sanitation front, it appears that India will not be able to achieve its target.

The paper then moves on to discuss about the intimate relationship between gender and water and also that of caste and class. The difference between rural and urban areas on water and sanitation access is also elaborated with statistical data of selected cities.

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