UPSC Prelims 2016 CSAT Paper II · Q45 of 79 Comprehension easy

Passage

Safe and sustainable sanitation in slums has immeasurable benefits to women and girls in terms of their health, safety, privacy and dignity. However, women do not feature in most of the schemes and policies on urban sanitation. The fact that even now the manual scavenging exists, only goes to show that not enough has been done to promote pour-flush toilets and discontinue the use of dry latrines. A more sustained and rigorous campaign needs to be launched towards the right to sanitation on a very large scale. This should primarily focus on the abolition of manual scavenging.

With reference to the above passage, consider the following statements : 1. Urban sanitation problems can be fully solved by the abolition of manual scavenging only 2. There is a need to promote greater awareness on safe sanitation practices in urban areas Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. (a) 1 only
  2. (b) 2 only ✓ UPSC's answer
  3. (c) Both 1 and 2
  4. (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Why the answer is (b)

• Statement 1 is incorrect because the passage states that a campaign should 'primarily focus' on the abolition of manual scavenging, not that this single action will 'fully solve' all urban sanitation problems.

• The passage highlights that manual scavenging persists because not enough has been done to promote pour-flush toilets and discontinue dry latrines, indicating that multiple interventions are required.

• Statement 2 is correct because the passage explicitly calls for a 'more sustained and rigorous campaign' towards the right to sanitation on a very large scale.

• Such a large-scale campaign inherently requires promoting greater awareness and changing practices regarding safe sanitation, as implied by the need to discontinue dry latrines and promote pour-flush toilets.

• Therefore, only Statement 2 is supported by the text, making option (b) the correct answer.

Why the other options are wrong

(a) 1 only
Statement 1 is incorrect because the passage does not claim that abolishing manual scavenging alone will fully solve urban sanitation problems.
(c) Both 1 and 2
Statement 1 is incorrect because the passage does not support the claim that urban sanitation problems can be fully solved by the abolition of manual scavenging only.
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Statement 2 is correct because the passage explicitly calls for a sustained and rigorous campaign towards the right to sanitation, which implies the need for greater awareness.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2016, held on 7 August 2016. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

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