Demonstrating a fivefold increase in just one year, more than 40 percent of India’s inhabited villages have declared themselves ODF Plus, stated Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, adding that ODF Plus villages increased from 46,121 villages (7.4%) in March 2022 to 2,38,973 villages (40.21%) in March 2023.
Out of these 2,38,973 ODF Plus villages, 1,60,709 are in the ODF Plus Aspiring category, 27,409 in the ODF Plus Rising category and 50,855 are in the ODF Plus Model category, the Minister added.
He applauded the States and UTs for having achieved more than 2.38 lakh ODF Plus villages compared to only 46,480 in March 2022.
Referring to his recent participation in the UN Water Conference 2023, he said that India has earned recognition around the world and is considered a role model in the field of sanitation. Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen which ensured access to sanitation to the whole of rural India was indeed a game changer, he said.
The Minister also announced that the National Scheme Sanctioning Committee (NSSC) which met on March 28, 2023, for consideration of the Annual Implementation Plans (AIPs) of all the States and Union Territories has approved the State/UT budgets to the tune of Rs. 52,049 crores for SBM-G Phase II activities through convergence for the Financial Year 2023-24. States have been informed of the tentative allocation of Rs. 14,030 crores in Central share funds for FY 2023-24.
On the performance of States, the 3 UTs’ of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu were not only ODF Plus, but all their villages were of the ODF Plus Model category, the Minister announced.
He said that the top performing States were Telangana with 100% ODF Plus villages followed by Tamil Nadu with 95.7% ODF plus villages and Karnataka with 93.7% ODF plus villages.
On the other hand, the States making remarkable progress were Himachal Pradesh which moved from 18% ODF Plus villages in 2022 to 79% villages in 2023; followed by Madhya Pradesh which moved from 6% ODF Plus villages in 2022 to 62% villages in 2023; and Uttar Pradesh which moved from 2% ODF Plus villages in 2022 to 47% villages in 2023. As far as the North East States were concerned, Mizoram has moved from 6% ODF Plus villages in 2022 to 35% villages in 2023.
Of the total spending by States, the Minister appreciated the efforts of Bihar and UP for having high fund expenditure (more than 90%) in the current financial year of 2022-23.
The Minister made a mention of the programme achievements in the year 2022-23 which included:
- Launch of SBM 2.0 Mobile App to capture SLWM progress
- Engaging women SHGs in SLWM and providing them with income generation opportunities
- Release of Technical manuals and tool kits for Solid and Liquid waste Management (SLWM) components
- Sujlam and Retrofit to Twin Pit Campaigns for integrated Grey Water Management and Faecal Sludge Management
- SBM academy – IVRS-based (online course)
- DDWS being designated the Nodal Department for the implementation of GOBARdhan
Shri Shekhawat also reiterated the importance of the GOBARdhan initiative, its objective being to convert waste to wealth, manage rural biodegradable waste, generate rural income, and promote a circular economy. The achievement under GOBARdhan which is being implemented in coordination with other stakeholder ministries as of date is 510 community GOBARdhan projects completed under SBM-G along with 43 CBG projects under SATAT by MoP&NG and 36 projects under MNRE funding.
In conclusion, the Minister called for the ‘Whole of Government’ and ‘Whole of Society’ approaches which are key to achieving 100% ODF Plus villages or Sampoorna Swachhata by 2024.
Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) 