Spatial Disparity in Access to Improved Source of Drinking Water and Sanitation Facility: A District-Level Assessment in India

More than one billion people worldwide are deprived of basic facilities including clean water sources and sanitation. Although many countries achieved progress through the millennium development goal, countries in South Asia like India still face the problem. More than 163 million people in India do not have access to clean water. Out of the 60% of the world population without access to drinking water, India tops the list by contributing 19.33%. Poor sanitation not only has a direct influence on well-being but also has an indirect impact on the living conditions, reduced education outcomes, and poverty. As of 2018, about 8% of the population in India still do not have access to an improved sanitation facility. The present study aims to assess the presence of spatial clustering in the proportion of households with access to an improved source of drinking water and sanitation facility at the district-level in India, using the data from national surveys. The study also aims at the temporal assessment of the clustering pattern during the period of 2007–2008 and 2015–2016. Spatial analytical techniques such as exploratory mapping and spatial cluster analysis are performed. The findings of this study are useful in locating the districts that lack access to an improved source of drinking water and sanitation facility. This information can further help in implementing targeted intervention programs to achieve the sustainable development goal of clean water and sanitation by 2030.