TODAY -

Continuing India’s sanitation revolution – from ODF to ODF Plus

Vini Mahajan *



In 2014, India started its unprecedented sanitation journey, as consistent and concerted efforts began to create an Open-Defecation Free (ODF) nation. Considered the largest behavior change program in the world, the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) drove every Indian village, to accomplish a massive milestone and by 2nd Oct 2019, as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary, every gram panchayat declared itself ODF with access to toilets for all.

The impact is visible in terms of positive health outcomes, economic & social benefits, and gender empowerment leading to better standards of living, livelihood opportunities for women and better school attendance for girls. Independent studies have shown that diarrhoeal morbidity among children was significantly lower in ODF areas, & better nutritional status prevailed among children of ODF areas, as compared to non-ODF areas.

This year we mark 8 years of SBM; so what’s next for the sanitation movement in rural India? Hon’ble Prime Minister was clear in 2019 itself that we cannot just rest on our laurels. We, as a country must always strive to be the best and the leaders in every sphere of human development.

Therefore, not stopping with the achievement of ODF status, the Govt. of India, embarked upon the journey of ODF Plus i.e. sustaining the ODF status, ensuring no one is left behind; and setting up a system of environment friendly management of solid and liquid waste. Taking bigger strides on the path of healthy behaviours, we are now working towards achieving ‘sampoorna swachhta’.

What is ODF Plus? It is about sustaining the ODF status of villages and managing the solid and liquid waste generated. There are primarily three components i.e. Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM), capacity building of stakeholders and behaviour change communication aimed at all.

Achieving ‘ODF plus’ status is the key goal of SBM(G) phase II, launched in early 2020. Significant progress has been made in last 2.5 years as over 1.14 lakh villages declared themselves ODF Plus in varying degrees and around 3 lakh villages have initiated SLWM works to begin their journey of becoming ODF Plus.

Going beyond toilet construction and their usage, SBM(G) phase II is assisting States and UTs in creating assets for SLWM such as community compost pits, community bio-gas plants, plastic waste collection and segregation sheds, soak pits for grey-water treatment & reuse, faecal sludge management systems including waste collection & transportation vehicles.

As on date, 77,141 villages, and 90 blocks have constructed 71 Plastic Waste Management Units. A special campaign – Sujlam, was executed for grey water management and construction of more than 22 lakh soak pits (community & household pits) took place across rural India.

An unfortunate legacy in managing faecal waste has been the practise of manual scavenging of sewers and septic tanks. Towards this, SBM-G has explored technological interventions required and currently 368 faecal sludge management arrangements have been instituted across 137 districts.

Further, we expanded the scope of engaging start-ups for promoting innovation in areas like mechanized desludging and other aspects of SLWM in rural areas. A Start-up Grand Challenge was organized for crowd-sourcing technologies that could support sustainable, affordable, scalable, and responsive solutions to the SLWM challenges of rural areas.

A significant challenge of managing animal waste is being addressed through ‘Waste to Wealth’ initiative – GOBARdhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources). This scheme aims to utilize animal waste and bio- degradable waste generated in villages for bio-gas/CBG as well as bio-slurry/bio-fertilizer production, to not only bring income generation avenues to rural India but also reduce our dependence on related imports!

These assets (SLWM setups) being created and made functional for making villages ODF plus, are not only ensuring cleanliness, but also generating income and empowering the people involved especially women (individual & Self Help Groups), reducing pollution by productive utilisation of farm waste, improving soil health, & recharging ground water while improving the climate.

The funds available under MGNREGS, 15th Finance Commission tied grants for Water & Sanitation (Rs. 1,40,000 crore over 5 years) as well as SBM(G) funds are being converged in rural areas and utilized to good effect.

To promote behavior change & community mobilization towards accelerating efforts of rural sanitation, since 2014 we have celebrated 15 days, from September 15th till October 2nd each year, as Swachhta Hi Sewa (SHS) – a dedicated participative cleanliness drive across the country. This year, the focus is on improving visual cleanliness and cleaning of legacy waste in villages. The response has been overwhelming with more than 9 crore people participating in various activities of SHS.

To validate the efforts and also engaging states in competitive federalism, Swachh Survekshan Grameen (SSG) is executed annually. An independent survey agency is engaged to asses and rank all States and districts of India on quantitative & qualitative ODF plus parameters viz. direct observation of sanitation public places, citizen’s feedback using a mobile app, feedback from key influencers at village level, and service level progress on sanitation parameters.

SSG 2022 is the third round and its report will be released, along with felicitation of the winners, during Swachh Bharat Diwas (SBD) scheduled for 2nd October 2022.


* Vini Mahajan wrote this article for PIB which was published at The Sangai Express
The writer is Secretary, Deptt. of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, GoI
This article was webcasted on October 22 2022 .



* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.




LATEST IN E-PAO.NET
  • Athoubasingi Numit #2 : Gallery
  • Violence in Manipur 2023-2024 : Timeline
  • Privilege trap of While Male Meitei
  • Crop/animal for higher productivity in NE #4
  • 'Chizami Model' working in Gujarat ?
  • Racing towards the one year mark
  • On misattribution & falsifying history
  • Nupi Landa Thaunaphabishing #15 :: Book
  • May Calendar for Year 2024 : Tools
  • 12th World Bamboo Congress at Taiwan
  • Complex dance of democracy in Manipur
  • "ST status for Meetei" at Pangaltabi
  • Integrated Farming Systems for farmers #1
  • Showing ugly face of muscle power
  • Spare the rod, spoil the monster
  • Descent of Radha-Krishna #31: Download
  • Socio-Historical analysis on Ethnic Conflict
  • "ST status for Meetei" at Langmeidong
  • Ngangbam Dipapati- Gold @European Cup
  • Crop/animal for higher productivity in NE #3
  • Fresh surge in violence
  • The real culprit
  • National Science Teacher workshop
  • Livelihood Disaster in Mapithel Region
  • Condemns Killing of CRPF Personnel
  • "ST status for Meetei" at Manipur College
  • Huidrom Oliviya: Silver @Cadet European Cup
  • Election: Runner-up may spoil the joy
  • Scientists of Manipur : Laishram Ladu Singh
  • Imphal Ring Road Project to Transform
  • Crop/animal for higher productivity in NE #2
  • The Power of Poppy - 28 :: Poem
  • Condemned unabated illegal taxation
  • Watermelon : Super nutritious summer fruit
  • People have spoken, Manipur has voted
  • Skirting around core issues
  • Lok Sabha polls in Manipur #2 : Gallery
  • The Taj Mahal that bans Lovers !
  • Importance of bees !
  • Massive hailstorm in Jiribam
  • The messiah of hapless children
  • Attack on fuel tankers & blasting bridge
  • Blame it on Meetei
  • The Happiness Code : Download
  • NH-2 Bridge bombed @Sapermeina : Gallery
  • Crop/animal for higher productivity in NE #1
  • Training Programme under SPARK concluded
  • Why environment control is so difficult
  • 4th Foundation Day- Young Minds Collective
  • All set for second phase poll
  • The Nongsaba phenomenon
  • Khongjom Day @Khebaching #1 : Gallery
  • India's responsibility to end Manipur violence
  • Migrant worker could access TB services only
  • Importance of reading magazines as student
  • SHG pioneering agricultural innovation
  • Nearing the one year mark
  • The enemy within
  • Id-ul-Fitr @Hatta #2 : Gallery
  • Workshop @ NSU Manipur : Gallery
  • 15th Manipur State Film Awards 2023
  • "ST status for Meetei" at Panthoibi Shanglen
  • GSDP doubles, health shines
  • Vote has been cast, repoll held
  • Two faces of democracy
  • Laurels for Scientist Ngangkham Nimai
  • Crime against women in Manipur
  • "ST status for Meetei" at Sugnu
  • Creativity & innovation for vibrant career
  • 4th Foundation Day of YMC
  • Racing towards one year mark
  • Prophetic words, indeed
  • Nupi Landa Thaunaphabishing #14 :: Book
  • 174th Anniv Maharaj Narasingh #1 : Gallery
  • Ensuring Fair Voting in Hills of Manipur
  • Dr Irengbam Mohendra's latest book :: Rvw
  • NDA has the advantage in both
  • Lok Sabha polls in Manipur #1 : Gallery
  • L Rup's Robot 'Kangleinganbi' in Manipuri
  • Art- means of connecting hearts in Manipur
  • Is it Living Alive or Living Death ? :: Poem
  • Rabies - A preventable zoonotic disease
  • April 19, 2024: The blackest day of all
  • Ugly turns on voting day
  • Children Camp @JNMDA Imphal #2 : Gallery
  • The chasm between TB & HIV continues
  • Parliament and its Members
  • Kimchi for health and glowing skin
  • LS election with a difference
  • To vote, or not to vote ?
  • Sajibu Cheiraoba Chak Katpa #2 : Gallery
  • "ST status for Meetei" at Lamjao, Kakching
  • The Power of Poppy - 27 :: Poem
  • Mother Language based education essential
  • Modi's warriors wear regional hats
  • Nest Asia promoting Northeastern Cuisine
  • Now look beyond LS poll
  • The rot in the system
  • Scientists of Manipur : Laitonjam Warjeet
  • Community seed bank @Umathel : Gallery
  • 10 candidates cracked Civil Services Exam
  • Milk of Paradise: History of Opium : Rvw
  • How plastics find their way into our bodies
  • Condemning attack on Trucks along NH-37
  • Cong looking to buck the trend
  • Saving Manipur
  • Sajibu Cheiraoba: 1 occasion, 2 narratives #2
  • Election Duty :: Travellog
  • 1st Nagas' Meet in Punjab
  • How to select right MP to represent Manipur
  • "ST status for Meetei" at Tejpur
  • Bats are Keystone species for the Planet
  • The '15 days' conundrum
  • Free but not so fair
  • Descent of Radha-Krishna #30: Download
  • Before You Vote : My Rumbling Thoughts
  • "ST status for Meetei" at Kakching
  • Meiraba wins All India Sr tournament
  • Finding light in dark through my daughter
  • Navigating life's unreasonable expectations
  • Test of people's character
  • BJP's election manifesto
  • Athoubasingi Numit #1 : Gallery
  • Black rice & Glycemic Index
  • What Nadda should speak at Dimapur rally
  • Open Letter to CM Office Manipur
  • Meghalaya unveils Strawberry festival
  • Benefits of maths newspapers for students
  • Id-ul-Fitr @Hatta #1 : Gallery
  • Are you a good person ?
  • Physics Academy of NE : Executive Body
  • "ST status for Meetei" at Moirang
  • Cherrapunji Eastern Craft Gin launched
  • Cong on cautious path
  • Botox for Hair
  • Posers voters should raise now
  • The lull before the storm
  • 80th Anniv- Battle of Kanglatongbi @UK
  • Vir Chakra Ngangom Joydutta's bust unveiled
  • Hun - Thadou Cultural Festival : Gallery
  • "ST status for Meetei" at Singjamei
  • Election Eclipses: Ballad of Battle & Loss
  • Our voices are equal at the ballot box
  • Scientists of Manipur : Ngangkham Nimai
  • Urgent Call for Solidarity in Manipur
  • Meitei Nongsha #2 :: An Artwork
  • "ST status for Meetei" at Waikhong
  • About NPF-BJP-NPP alliance & why ?
  • World Veterinary Day, 2024
  • The heavy stake behind the LS polls
  • The politics of lying & deception
  • Sajibu Cheiraoba Chak Katpa #1 : Gallery
  • Hun-Thadou Cultural Fest @ Delhi: Report
  • Appeal to Parties & Candidates
  • "ST status for Meetei" at Wangoo
  • Establishment of community seed bank
  • Awareness Programme on new Criminal Laws
  • Make a right choice at the Lok Sabha election
  • Sajibu Cheiraoba: 1 occasion, 2 narratives #1
  • RIST talk-58 : Support systems of elderly
  • "ST status for Meetei" at Hiyanglam
  • Vote, do not boycott !
  • Lok Sabha election: A new dawn in politics ?
  • IIT-Guwahati Half Marathon report
  • Taking ST demand to the election ring
  • Lesson to be learnt from across border
  • Mirabai: Poised for Paris Olympics
  • Legal position for protection of environment
  • "ST status for Meetei" at Keisamthong
  • Heterocyclic compound & biochemical science
  • Inner, torn between two lovers
  • Certification Music Therapy Workshop
  • NOTA as a choice
  • Caesar's wife must be above suspicion
  • Descent of Radha-Krishna #29: Download
  • World Health Day 2024
  • "ST status for Meetei" at Pangantabi
  • The Power of Poppy - 26 :: Poem
  • Fulbright Fellowship Outreach at Arunachal
  • Id-ul Fitr da namaz nattana..
  • Nupi Landa Thaunaphabishing #13 :: Book
  • Lok Sabha election is coming, be prepared
  • 6th Hun-Thadou Cultural Festival
  • Let There Be Free & Fair Election
  • "ST status for Meetei" at Lamlong
  • Science magazines are important for student
  • Interesting choice of candidates
  • The power of We, the voters
  • Inspirations from Scientists of Manipur #1
  • The Case for Amendment of Article 371-C
  • Meitei Nongsha #1 :: Artwork
  • Link between forest & conflict in Manipur
  • Final Call for Application MFA - Phase-2
  • ST for Meiteis call before elections
  • Passing the buck
  • Beating of the Retreat #1 : Gallery
  • Life of our Lives in Ethnic Strife Era! :: Poem
  • IIT-Guwahati annual Half Marathon
  • Follow up: European Parliament on Manipur
  • Yoga & Kegel exercise: Pelvic floor workout
  • Opting for the NOTA button
  • Yearning of the displaced people
  • Kenedy Khuman (Singer) : Gallery
  • 5th NE Women's Peace Congregation
  • World Autism Awareness Day 2024
  • Election fever grips Manipur despite unrest
  • Looking for a decent election hustings
  • Clock ticking towards voting day
  • An exemplary directive
  • Children Camp @JNMDA Imphal #1 : Gallery
  • Memo to Election Commission of India
  • Easter & Holi echo in Nilgiris
  • Holiday Camp for children at JNMDA, Imphal
  • Zero waste is our moral responsibility
  • Elections & loyalty vis-a-vis Manipur crisis
  • Show of strength without unity
  • Yaoshang Pichakari #2 : Gallery
  • Panthoi Chanu : 1st to play in Australia
  • Intensive labs in film preservation
  • Building bridges with books
  • Need of the hour: Political maturity
  • Accepting defeat before the election
  • Descent of Radha-Krishna #28: Download
  • Natural packaging from bamboo : Gallery
  • Yaoshang Mei Thaba #2 : Gallery
  • Manipur's original Ponies : Gallery
  • Lamta Thangja @ Imphal : Gallery
  • Meira Paibis of Manipur
  • North East Film Festival #2 : Gallery
  • Students @ Class X Exam : Gallery
  • Saroi Khangba @ Kangla : Gallery
  • Protest for scrapping SoO #2 :Gallery
  • Shopping List for Shivaratri : Gallery
  • N Tombi Equestrian C'ships #1 : Gallery
  • Featured Front Page Photo 2024 #1: Gallery
  • Radio E-pao: Manipuri Film OST (130+ song)
  • Save Manipur : Protest [Feb 15] #3 : Gallery
  • Naorem Roshibina- Wushu Medallist : Gallery
  • GHOST of PEACE :: Download Booklet
  • List of Kings of Manipur: 33 - 1984 AD