AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION OF SOCIAL SERVICES (POTABLE WATERSUPPLY AND SANITATION) BY RURAL COMMUNITY IN DISTRICT CHARSADDA

Present study was condu ctedfrom September to November; 2005 with the main objectives to investigate theavailability and utilization ofrural social services (potable water supply and sanitatio n) and the factors responsiblefo r the delivery ofl ow quality services in the three purposively selected villag es of district Charsadda . Fifteenpercent of the sample size (1]0 respo ndents) was selected fo r the study. This sample size was pr oportionatelydistributed among the three villages . The study main f indings depicts that socia l services provided by thegovernment in the area is not fu lfill the needs and also the already available ones are not fu lly utilized by the ruralcommunity. There are a lot of reason for insufficiency and not f ully utilization of the services. The potable watersupply was not easily available and was oflower quality. Similarly improper storage, disposa l ofgarbage and toiletwaste was the maj or reason ofpoo r sanitation. All these factors together have contrib uted significantly to the underutilization of the social services. Therefore, the study recommends that special attention should be given to theavailability of clean drinking water through new water schemes. Likewise, organized drainage system, properstorage and disposal ofgarbage and toilet waste, construction offl ush latrines and public awareness through healthand hygiene education should be arranged.