Introduction
India, a pivotal voice of the Global South, grapples with myriad social imperilments, notably in Education, Health, and Nutrition. In acknowledgment of these challenges, the Government of India launched the Aspirational Districts (ADs) Programme in 2018, targeting 112 of the nation’s most underdeveloped districts to catalyze economic growth and development. The ADs program aims to transform some of India’s most under-developed districts while promoting SDGs. This article evaluates Dhubri and Goalpara, two historic districts in Assam, rich in socio-political complexity and cultural heritage. Dhubri functioned as a vital trade conduit throughout its history, while Goalpara is renowned for its agrarian roots and vibrant folklore. Both districts are pivotal to advancing Sustainable Development Goal 6, aiming for universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation under SDG 6, thereby addressing open defecation, crucial for holistic community development.
Why SDG 6?
SDG 6 is often regarded as the cornerstone of all SDGs, enveloping others under its expansive mandate. Its significance permeates in everyday life, exemplified by its intrinsic link to SDG 2, where water availability is critical for food security and disaster resilience. Agriculture, particularly in developing nations, consumes 70-95% of global freshwater, making quality and quantity paramount (UN World Water Development Report 2023).
Furthermore, SDG 3 is directly influenced by clean water and sanitation access, crucial for mitigating waterborne diseases and reducing child mortality rates. In terms of education (SDG 4), fostering water education in schools can significantly enhance children’s well-being. The absence of adequate sanitation facilities, particularly for girls, exacerbates absenteeism during menstruation, underscoring the need for gender-sensitive infrastructure.
SDG 5 highlights the importance of women’s involvement in water governance for effective resource management. Kerala’s women-led water initiative, The Palakkad, has proven to elevate health and social status for women. Moreover, SDG 6 intersects with hydropower generation, contributing to targets under SDG 7, including innovations like solar-powered water pumps and community-managed water systems. Ultimately, the interconnectedness of SDG 6 with economic growth (SDG 8) and sustained equitable practices highlights its critical role in addressing inequalities and advancing holistic development, making its achievement epoch-making for the 2030 agenda.
Analogizing SDG progress of the mentioned districts
Assam has made notable progress in the SDG 6 index from a score of 42 (2018), categorizing it as one of the low performers or ‘Aspiring’, to a score of 85 with a tag of ‘top performer’ (Niti Aayog, 2023-24 SDG Index). Navigating the clean drinking water access scenario. In Dhubri, around 96% of Households (hereafter HHs) have improved drinking water facilities (NFHS-5), yet only 61% have improved sanitation facilities, being said that, this indicator doesn’t represent access to toilet facilities completely. However, Jal Jeevan Mission 2022 FHTC data reveals that only 54% of households have fully functional tap connections, out of which SC/ST grabs the lowest of 8% and 1% respectively in their sample. This exhibits the notion that caste-based access is still a thing. The state’s average is even below -only 3.3% of rural HHs have piped water into dwellings (MIS report).
Goalpara has slightly improved its profile considering the rise in numbers in access to clean drinking water sources from 87% (NFHS-4) to around 90.7% (NFHS-5). Though less than the Dhubri district, this improvement reflects a significant upturn even in the improved sanitation facility section with around a 27% jump from 47% to 75%. This again reflects improvements not only in public health but also in the socio-economic status, life expectancy, and living standards of the region WHO/UNICEF JMP, 2021.
Access to electricity was also a major concern in the Goalpara district, making people scramble to access basic facilities in the 21st century. From NFHS-4 to NFHS-5, there have been upswings in access to electricity too, from around 70% to 90%. Dhubri district has a slightly higher edge and stands at 92.5%.
Corporate Social Responsibility dynamics and its need
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) emerges as a critical nexus through which socioeconomic indicators can be substantially ameliorated, particularly within the underdeveloped districts of India. The multifarious challenges endemic to these regions—including but not limited to educational deficits, healthcare inadequacies, sanitation deficiencies, and precarious livelihood conditions—are systematically addressed through strategic CSR interventions. This catalyzes comprehensive community development and fosters resilience among marginalized populations.
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs guidelines state that companies should prioritize local areas and the areas around where they operate for CSR projects. In the fiscal year 2021-2022, Assam received a large share of CSR funding, summing around ₹400+ cr., a sharp rise from ₹180 cr. in the previous year. Though neither Dhubri nor Goalpara were in the top 10 districts in any year, their CSR funding allocation has increased throughout.
The Health, Eradicating Hunger, Poverty and Malnutrition, Safe Drinking water, and Sanitation saw the highest allocation of ₹164.35 cr. with a significant increase of ₹117.86 cr from the fiscal year 2020-2021. The Oil And Natural Gas Corporation Ltd, ICICI Bank Ltd, Numaligarh Refinery Ltd, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, Oil India Limited, etc. are some of the top companies undertaking CSR projects in these districts. The provision of drinking water facilities in schools and Anganwadi centers has been a priority. OIL has facilitated the installation of hand pumps and deep tube wells to improve access to clean water.
The nuanced interplay of socio-economic variables and political paradigms in Dhubri and Goalpara underscores a gradual yet discernible ascendancy in developmental metrics post-implementation of the Aspirational Districts Programme. However, entrenched disparities in access to clean water, sanitation, and electricity persist, reflecting a fractal of systemic inequities exacerbated by caste stratifications and uneven CSR allocation.
Still today, considering the importance of CSR in the upliftment of socio-economic indicators, it is appalling to see that districts such as Dima Hasao, Karimganj, and Morigaon barely receive anything between ₹0-8 Lakhs with the former being at 0, palpable of the fact that the catalytic potential of CSR initiatives, albeit instrumental, remains insufficient in isolation.
Thus, a multifaceted governance approach, integrating community participation and robust policy frameworks, is imperative to engender sustainable transformations and transcend the socio-economic liminality pervasive in these districts.
References
NER District SDG Index and Dashboard Baseline Report (2021-2022). Retrieved from Link.
ADP in Assam. (n.d.). Retrieved from Link.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) (2019-2020) National Family Health Survey Report-5, District Factsheet. Dhubri, Goalpara.
Ministry of Corporate Affairs, CSR portal. Link
Multiple Indicator Survey Report. Retrieved from Link
SDG India Index 2023-2024, Niti Aayog. Retrieved from Link.
Assam Corporate Social Responsibility Policy. Retrieved from Link
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Retrieved from Link.
Aligning India’s sanitation policies with sustainable development goals (SDGs) (2020). Link
Exploring the Interconnectedness of Sustainable Development Goals. Link
Corporate Social Responsibility at OIL 2019-20. Link.
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