The correct option is (b)
Explanation
The Census 2011 data regarding "Houses, Household Amenities and Assets." This data serves as the baseline for understanding the sanitation and drinking water crisis in India prior to major interventions like the Swachh Bharat Mission.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect.
According to Census 2011, the percentage of households with access to drinking water was significantly higher than the percentage of households with access to sanitation.
Data: Approximately 85.5% of households had access to drinking water, whereas only 46.9% of households had latrine facilities within the premises. - Statement 2 is Correct.
The Census 2011 data revealed that only 46.9% of total households in India had latrine facilities within their premises. This figure is clearly less than 60%. This highlighted a severe deficit in sanitation coverage. - Statement 3 is Incorrect.
Sanitation coverage follows a distinct rural-urban divide, but it is higher in urban areas, not rural areas.
Data: In 2011, 81.4% of urban households had latrine facilities within the premises, compared to only 30.7% of rural households.
Key Takeaway:
The Census 2011 highlighted a "missing sanitation" crisis where access to drinking water was relatively high (over 85%), but access to toilets was critically low (below 50%), particularly in rural India (approx. 31%).