India Celebrates Milestone as 75% of Villages Achieve ODF Plus Status Under Swachh Bharat Mission

India has achieved a significant milestone under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase II, with 75% of its villages now attaining the ODF Plus status. An ODF Plus village is one that has sustained its Open Defecation Free (ODF) status while implementing either solid or liquid waste management systems. This achievement signifies a substantial step toward realizing the Phase II goals of the SBM-G by 2024-25.

The top-performing States and Union Territories (UTs), including Andaman & Nicobar Islands, D&N Haveli, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh, Puducherry, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Tripura, have achieved 100% ODF Plus villages. Notably, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra Nagar Haveli & Daman Diu, Jammu & Kashmir, and Sikkim have 100% ODF Plus Model villages, showcasing their remarkable progress in attaining this status.

Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, emphasized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unwavering commitment to the Swachh Bharat Mission since 2014. He noted that the Prime Minister's vision to make India Open Defecation Free by 2019 became a mass movement, and subsequent goals focused on achieving "Sampoorna Swachhata," which encompasses visible cleanliness and efficient waste management.

Shekhawat explained that SBM-G Phase-II has set the ambitious target of making all villages ODF Plus by 2025. Out of the 4,43,964 ODF Plus villages achieved thus far, 2,92,497 are ODF Plus Aspiring villages with arrangements for Solid Waste Management or Liquid Waste Management. Additionally, 55,549 villages are ODF Plus Rising villages, having arrangements for both Solid Waste Management and Liquid Waste Management, while 96,018 villages are ODF Plus Model villages. Overall, 2,31,080 villages have arrangements for solid waste management, and 3,76,353 villages have arrangements for liquid waste management.

This year marks the ninth anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission, and the achievement of 75% ODF Plus villages represents a significant milestone as the country transitions from ODF to ODF Plus under Swachh Bharat Mission Phase II. The key components of Phase-II include sustaining Open Defecation Free status, solid waste management, plastic waste management, liquid waste management, faecal sludge management, GOBARdhan, Information Education and Communication/Behavior Change Communication, and capacity building.

Shekhawat highlighted that the entire budget outlay for SBM Phase II is 1.43 lakh crores, with a substantial portion coming from the 15th Finance Commission funds and MGNREGA. The central share allocation from SBM-G for 2023-24 is Rs.7,192 Crore, with states planning an expenditure of 22,264 cr from all sources this year. Funds have been utilized to build sanitation assets, promote behaviour change, and implement solid and liquid waste management systems.

The Union Minister expressed his joy that this achievement coincided with the ongoing Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) campaign, celebrated annually from September 15th to October 2nd. SHS-2023, themed 'Garbage Free India,' has seen substantial community participation through Shramdaan activities. As part of SHS-2023, 5 crore people have participated, with over 2.05 crore individuals contributing to Shramdaan activities, including cleaning beaches, riversides, legacy waste sites, tourist spots, public places, water bodies, institutional buildings, and garbage-vulnerable sites.

In addition to 34 States/UTs, approximately 42 Partner Ministries/Departments actively participate in SHS 2023. The Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, commended the contribution of all villages, Gram Panchayats, Districts, States/UTs in this remarkable achievement.