ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on a case study of a Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation Scheme at Khairenitar Bazar in the western mid-hills of Nepal, demonstrates how micro-policies at the scheme level could be instrumental in increasing water supply and sanitation coverage of the poor and marginalized population. Two micro-policies that supported pro-poor agenda in the scheme were: poor households were allowed to pay the water connection fee in installments, and differential water tariff based on the volume slab of water consumption. The chapter analyzes what extent these provisions have been successful in increasing the urban poor's accessibility to safe water and sanitation and to what extent these reforms at the local level have been successful in translating the pro-poor reform agenda into reality. Community participation with the inclusion of all sections of the population is considered essential for any successful community-based intervention.