A policy note is being prepared in the ministry in this connection for putting up before the Cabinet for approval.

Saxena, who was briefing newspersons at the end of the two-day national seminar on rural sanitation in Capital, said that the state governments have already agreed to this proposal to reduce the subsidy earmarked. He said at present both the centre and the concerned state government are extending Rs 1,000 each as subsidy per household toilet. The beneficiaries are paying only Rs 500 per household toilet. The total cost of a household toilet is Rs 2,500.

He said that with the decrease in the level of direct subsidy, the amount will be diverted to extension programmes for generating awareness amongst the masses for the need to have hygienic toilets and proper usageof water. This will be a mission mode approach. However, the programme of setting up sanitary systems in rural schools and training children in hygienic conditions will continue without any dilution. With reduced level of subsidy coupled with awareness generated, more sanitary systems could beconstructed for rural households, said Saxena.

He said that the ministry has already approached the Planning Commission for allocation of Rs 1,100 crore for construction of 50 lakh toilets in the next five years. For 1998-99 Rs 100 crore subsidy has already been earmarked in the Budget for construction of household toilets in rural areas.

The ministry's total budget for the year is Rs 10,000 crore. Saxena stated that 10 lakh household toilets have already been constructed under this scheme and another 10 lakh household toilets have been constructed under Indira Awaas Yojona.

He said that there is also a proposal to link this existing scheme with IRDP and Trysem.

There is also a proposal for setting up a number ofsanitary marts in rural areas to both generate awareness and cater to the people's needs.