Toilet targets: On ending open defecation
5 years, 3 months ago

Toilet targets: On ending open defecation

The Hindu  

India’s declaration on the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi that its rural areas are now open defecation-free will be acknowledged around the world as a milestone in its developmental journey. That 110 million toilets were built under this programme since then counts as an achievement in itself, even though many of these structures have been bootstrapped to ramshackle dwellings; many do not meet construction standards. Forward-looking as it is, the campaign for universal sanitation and an end to open defecation cannot go far if toilet access is the sole metric of success. This bears mention in the context of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and its efforts to end open defecation, since officials and campaigners have resorted to violence, public shaming and the threat of deprivation of welfare benefits to bring about compliance. Of concern too is a possible resort to illegal manual scavenging, since many toilets built under the Swachh mission are not of the prescribed twin-pit design, and will need periodic evacuation.

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History of this topic

People urged to shun open defecation
1 month, 3 weeks ago

People urged to shun open defecation

Deccan Chronicle  

Visakhapatnam:District collector A. Shyam Prasad appealed to people to avoid open defecation and maintain cleanliness of the environment on the occasion of World Toilet Day celebrations in Parvathipuram Manyam district on Tuesday. Addressing the gathering, he said that open defecation was a social evil and should be avoided for the betterment of environment and health of the society. “We were …

World Toilet Day 2024: Why it matters and India's efforts towards sanitation
1 month, 3 weeks ago

World Toilet Day 2024: Why it matters and India's efforts towards sanitation

India Today  

World Toilet Day, observed annually on November 19, highlights the global sanitation crisis and the urgent need to provide safe and secure toilets for all. With 3.5 billion people still lacking access to safely managed sanitation, including 419 million practising open defecation, this year’s theme, Sanitation for Peace, underscores the role of resilient sanitation systems in building a fairer and …

Children's Sanitation Revolution: A Decade of Progress and Impact
2 months, 1 week ago

Children's Sanitation Revolution: A Decade of Progress and Impact

The Hindu  

A decade of India's transformative sanitation mission, the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), has been transformational for the people of India in more ways than one. It has saved lives, empowered women, and led to sustainable practices. The SBM has also become a global model for people-led and people-driven public movements. The mission has shown that when you empower children and …

In Surat’s turnaround in sanitation, a story of hope
11 months ago

In Surat’s turnaround in sanitation, a story of hope

Hindustan Times  

The ascendance of Surat as the cleanest city in India, announced last month, has multiple narratives. First, it makes the chaotic task of city sanitation an achievable goal for India’s 5,000 urban local bodies. The cleanest city tag is no longer the exclusive preserve of Indore, which lifted the crown with predictable regularity soon after Swachh Survekshan was instituted by …

Revolutionising rural sanitation: India's Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen
1 year ago

Revolutionising rural sanitation: India's Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen

Hindustan Times  

India's sanitation landscape is undergoing a transformative change, with the Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen Phase II marking a remarkable achievement: five lakh+ villages have been declared Open Defecation Free Plus. The key to the success of Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen Phase I was an effective communication strategy that included mass awareness campaigns, behaviour change communication, and the formation of local …

Embracing Incremental Steps for Monumental Sanitation Reforms
1 year, 1 month ago

Embracing Incremental Steps for Monumental Sanitation Reforms

News 18  

To understand the role of sanitation on our behavior and lives, it is pertinent to know about the broken window theory. The Bharat story, it’s tryst with building a movement around sanitation through Swachh Bharat Abhiyan stems out as a tale of triumph in the war field of mind and habits. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, initiated by our Honorable Prime …

World Toilet Day: An Occasion To Mark India’s Progress
1 year, 1 month ago

World Toilet Day: An Occasion To Mark India’s Progress

News 18  

The World Toilet Day, marked on November 19 every year, is a significant day for India. This was the state of our affairs that led Shri Narendra Modiji to issue a clarion call for sanitation to become the nation’s foremost priority in his first Independence Day address as the Prime Minister. 130 crore citizens rose up in response to script …

Stirring The Movement: Promoting Sanitation and Championing Hygiene for a Healthier Tomorrow
1 year, 1 month ago

Stirring The Movement: Promoting Sanitation and Championing Hygiene for a Healthier Tomorrow

News 18  

Every year, November 19 is commemorated as World Toilet Day by the United Nations to raise awareness about people living without access to clean toilets and proper sanitation facilities. On this occasion, as a citizen of India and in my capacity as the National Advocate for Sustainable Development Goals with the United Nations Development Programme, I, Bhumi Pednekar, am reaching …

From Open Defecation to ODF Plus: Swachh Bharat Mission's Remarkable Journey Towards Total Cleanliness
1 year, 3 months ago

From Open Defecation to ODF Plus: Swachh Bharat Mission's Remarkable Journey Towards Total Cleanliness

News 18  

The Uttar Pradesh government, during the second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission, proudly announced that all of its 95,767 villages had attained the ODF Plus status, marking a remarkable 100 per cent success rate for the state. Over 4.43 lakh villages, which is 75 per cent of all Indian villages, have voluntarily proclaimed their ODF Plus status, marking a …

Despite early gains of Swachh Bharat Mission, toilet use declining since 2018-19: World Bank paper
1 year, 3 months ago

Despite early gains of Swachh Bharat Mission, toilet use declining since 2018-19: World Bank paper

The Hindu  

A departmental working paper by the World Bank on the progress of the Swacch Bharat Mission - Gramin has now found that despite “breathtaking” gains made by the programme to bring toilet access to rural India since 2014-15, when it began, there has been a clear trend of regular toilet use declining in rural India from 2018-19 onwards, with the …

42% Urban Indians Believe Availability of Public Toilets Has Improved: Survey - News18
1 year, 3 months ago

42% Urban Indians Believe Availability of Public Toilets Has Improved: Survey - News18

News 18  

As India marks nine years of Swachh Bharat Mission today, 42% urban citizens believe that availability of public toilets has improved since the start of the campaign, according to a LocalCircles survey. ‘30% URBAN INDIANS SEE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT’ The survey sought to know from citizens: ‘How has the availability of functional public toilets in your district/ city improved in the …

Nudging Urbanites for Climate-Conscious Behaviour - News18
1 year, 6 months ago

Nudging Urbanites for Climate-Conscious Behaviour - News18

News 18  

“Climate change cannot be fought from conference tables alone; it has to be fought from the dinner tables in every home.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi was right on point while sharing India’s viewpoint on how behaviour change can tackle climate change. In the US, the ‘Don’t mess with Texas’ campaign for preventing littering in public spaces remains the most successful …

Top-notch ‘aspirational’ toilets to usher in change
1 year, 8 months ago

Top-notch ‘aspirational’ toilets to usher in change

The Hindu  

A quarter of all new public restrooms in Indian cities will soon have high-end features such as luxurious bath cubicles, touchless flushing, breast-feeding rooms, and automatic sanitary napkin incinerators. “A directive has been sent to all State governments to ensure that henceforth 25% of public toilet seats added in any city or urban unit are ‘aspirational toilets’,” sources in the …

Data | Over 25% rural households defecate in the open in contrast to Swachh Bharat data
2 years, 7 months ago

Data | Over 25% rural households defecate in the open in contrast to Swachh Bharat data

The Hindu  

On October 2, 2019, all the villages in the 36 States and Union Territories of India were declared open defecation-free. Among rural Scheduled Tribe households, 65% had access to toilets, whereas more than 85% of non-Scheduled Caste, non-ST and non-Other Backward Classes households did. Click to remove AMP mode State-wise share The chart depicts the State-wise share of households in …

Lessons from past sanitation policies for future efforts
3 years, 1 month ago

Lessons from past sanitation policies for future efforts

Live Mint  

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal No. And yet, despite decades of national sanitation policies, data from the fifth National Family Health Survey indicates that India is far from achieving it. It is thus important to understand the evolution of India’s sanitation policies and lessons that will help India frame revised sanitation policies and achieve SDG 6 by 2030. The …

Mission Paani Updates: India Takes 'Sanitation for All' Pledge on World Toilet Day
3 years, 1 month ago

Mission Paani Updates: India Takes 'Sanitation for All' Pledge on World Toilet Day

News 18  

Mission Paani Updates: On the occasion of World Toilet Day on Friday, the Mission Paani initiative by Network18 and Reckitt took a revolutionary pledge to uphold India’s first-ever Preamble for safe water and sanitation security for all citizens. Taking the first step towards solving the water crisis, Harpic – News18 Mission Paani is an initiative towards saving water and sustaining …

Akshay Kumar at Mission Paani: Many Places Still Face Lack of Clean Toilets, Every Citizen Should Take Responsibility
3 years, 1 month ago

Akshay Kumar at Mission Paani: Many Places Still Face Lack of Clean Toilets, Every Citizen Should Take Responsibility

News 18  

Bollywood superstar and brand ambassador of the Mission Paani event, Akshay Kumar said developing nations like India still have many areas where women suffer due to lack of clean water and proper toilets. Talking about the difficulty women face due to the lack of these essential services, Akshay Kumar recalled working on his film on a similar issue, Toilet ek …

Om Birla at Mission Paani: Make Swachhta Abhiyan a Part of Your Daily Life Like Mahatma Gandhi
3 years, 1 month ago

Om Birla at Mission Paani: Make Swachhta Abhiyan a Part of Your Daily Life Like Mahatma Gandhi

News 18  

Speaking at the Mission Paani initiative by Network18 and Reckitt, Lok Sabha Om Birla said clean water and safe toilets are the citizens’ right as well as their need. Taking the first step towards solving the water crisis, Harpic – News18 Mission Paani is an initiative towards saving water and sustaining it for the generations to come. The Lok Sabha …

Swachh Bharat second phase launched; flagship scheme aims to make cities free of garbage, ensure safe water
3 years, 3 months ago

Swachh Bharat second phase launched; flagship scheme aims to make cities free of garbage, ensure safe water

Firstpost  

Under the new phase, it will be ensured that no untreated drain waste is discharged into any river of the country, Modi said after launching SBM-U 2.0 and AMRUT 2.0 at the Ambedkar International Centre in Delhi New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched the second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban and the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation …

Survey data again casts doubt over reality of open defecation-free India
3 years, 11 months ago

Survey data again casts doubt over reality of open defecation-free India

Live Mint  

In late 2019, the Narendra Modi government attempted to delay and then discredit an official survey that showed sanitation coverage was far lower than it was claimed. Another major government survey has now confirmed the trend: in five states, over one-third of the rural population still lack exclusive access to ‘improved’ sanitation for their households. By the end of 2020, …

No toilets, a sanitation challenge at farmer agitation sites in Delhi
4 years, 1 month ago

No toilets, a sanitation challenge at farmer agitation sites in Delhi

Hindustan Times  

Farmers camping at Delhi’s borders may have stacked ration for months even as they ready themselves potentially for the long haul but they face one problem, toilets. With no toilets made available for them at the city’s borders, the farmers are compelled to either use empty plots and agricultural fields or are at the mercy of the goodwill of local …

Book excerpt: Ankur Bisen traces India’s continuing sanitation challenge, linking to its historical and cultural roots in his maiden effort
4 years, 11 months ago

Book excerpt: Ankur Bisen traces India’s continuing sanitation challenge, linking to its historical and cultural roots in his maiden effort

Firstpost  

The book introduces the challenge of sanitation to the young India with an honest confession that the previous generation has goofed it up and that they have an opportunity to start on a clean slate The Narendra Modi government’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or Clean India Mission is the Centre’s dream of a clean and hygienic India. For instance, Bisen’s take …

Hyderabad: Poor feel toilets are for the rich – Unicef expert
5 years ago

Hyderabad: Poor feel toilets are for the rich – Unicef expert

Deccan Chronicle  

HYDERABAD: Behavioural change among people is important for India to achieve the status of being a country free from open defecation, an issue that continues to be a challenge. Now that 10 crore toilets have been additionally built, along with the earlier six crore of them, people must start using them. Hence the effort in rural areas has been to …

India’s toilet stats raise a stink
5 years ago

India’s toilet stats raise a stink

Live Mint  

India’s villages are now officially open defecation free, according to those who were assigned this target: the sanitation department, now subsumed under the Jal Shakti ministry. The 76th NSS round conducted by the National Statistical Organization found that as of September 2018, 28.7% of India’s rural households lacked access to toilets and 32% practised open defecation. In case of the …

Open defecation-free India: National Statistical Office survey debunks Swachh Bharat claims
5 years, 1 month ago

Open defecation-free India: National Statistical Office survey debunks Swachh Bharat claims

The Hindu  

The latest National Statistical Office survey on sanitation debunked the claims of an open defecation-free or ODF India made by the Centre’s flagship Swachh Bharat scheme, although it did record great progress in toilet access and use in rural areas. In Gujarat, which was one of the earliest States declared ODF, back in October 2017, almost a quarter of all …

World Toilet Day 2019: PM Modi applauds nation's efforts towards sanitation
5 years, 1 month ago

World Toilet Day 2019: PM Modi applauds nation's efforts towards sanitation

India TV News  

PM Narendra Modi's personal website and app's Twitter handle celebrate India's extraordinary feat of work in sanitation. November 19 has been marked as the World's toilet day United Nations to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation day. The tweet read, "Today is #WorldToiletDay, a day to remember India’s feats in the domain of safe sanitation that has made it …

India declared open defecation free, but in Mumbai's Mahim, slum residents face a different reality
5 years, 2 months ago

India declared open defecation free, but in Mumbai's Mahim, slum residents face a different reality

Firstpost  

India was declared open defecation free by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an address from the Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad on the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. To them, the promise of a clean toilet is an election special, and the government’s claim of the country becoming open defecation free “a lie”. I say, carry out the Swachh Bharat …

CSE questions sustainability of Swachh Bharat Mission's public toilet initiative
5 years, 3 months ago

CSE questions sustainability of Swachh Bharat Mission's public toilet initiative

Firstpost  

The group asked how will these toilets be kept functional and waste generated be disposed of efficiently. The Centre for Science and Environment has questioned the sustainability of the government’s Swachh Bharat Mission and raised concerns over the maintenance of the nearly 100 million toilets constructed under the ambitious programme. India has built 100 million toilets in about six lakh …

Experts Question Government’s Claim of India Becoming ODF-Free
5 years, 3 months ago

Experts Question Government’s Claim of India Becoming ODF-Free

The Quint  

CSE director general Sunita Narain said till five years ago, India was home to 60 percent of the world's people who defecated in the open. "If the nation now achieves ODF status, it means a huge leap forward not only for it, but for the world as a whole. It will take the world a long way on its sustainable …

Opinion | Aaj Ki Baat October 2 episode: Modi fulfills one big promise, an open defecation free India
5 years, 3 months ago

Opinion | Aaj Ki Baat October 2 episode: Modi fulfills one big promise, an open defecation free India

India TV News  

More than five years ago, on August 15, 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first address to the nation from the ramparts of historic Red Fort, vowed to fulfill Mahatma Gandhi's dream of a clean India on his 150th birth anniversary in 2019. October 2 this year was, in a sense, a day of celebration for Indian womanhood, as …

'India is open defecation free': Experts question govt claim, say scheme is ‘archaic’, people might slip back to their old habit
5 years, 3 months ago

'India is open defecation free': Experts question govt claim, say scheme is ‘archaic’, people might slip back to their old habit

Firstpost  

New Delhi: Experts on Wednesday questioned the government’s claim of the country becoming open defecation free, saying the data used for measuring the success of the scheme is “archaic” and people might be slipping back to their old habit. Speaking at the Swachch Bharat Diwas programme in Ahmedabad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said rural India and its villages are now …

Miles to go before becoming open defecation-free
5 years, 3 months ago

Miles to go before becoming open defecation-free

The Hindu  

October 2 was not only Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary, but also the fifth, and perhaps final, anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission. Speaking in Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared India “open defecation-free”. The other half of the story Hard-working government officials going around convincing people to build and use a latrine might be half the story, but the …

Prime Minister Modi declares country open defecation-free
5 years, 3 months ago

Prime Minister Modi declares country open defecation-free

The Hindu  

On the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the country open defecation-free, claiming success for the government’s initiative under which every household now apparently has access to a toilet. I feel lucky that on this occasion, when India has successfully stopped open defecation, I’m here at the ashram,” the Prime Minister wrote …

Tamil Nadu 100 per cent free of open defecation, reveals data
5 years, 3 months ago

Tamil Nadu 100 per cent free of open defecation, reveals data

India TV News  

Tamil Nadu has achieved 100 per cent Open Defecation Free status as per data uploaded on the Swachh Bharat Mission website. According to the data, a total of 53,46,613 toilets have been built in the state since after the announcement, an increase of 51.65 per cent in the number of households with toilets. The objectives of the Mission are elimination …

PM Modi to declare India open defecation-free on October 2: Gujarat Deputy CM
5 years, 3 months ago

PM Modi to declare India open defecation-free on October 2: Gujarat Deputy CM

The Hindu  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will declare the country open defecation-free on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2. Mr. Modi will make the declaration in the presence of over 20,000 village heads at a function at the Sabarmati Riverfront here during his visit to Gujarat, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said on Wednesday. Our …

How Swachh Bharat Mission helped millions live with dignity
5 years, 3 months ago

How Swachh Bharat Mission helped millions live with dignity

The Quint  

New Delhi, Sep 15 Launched five years ago, the Swachh Bharat Mission announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on the verge making India a completely open defecation free, enabling people to embrace change and live their lives with dignity. When Modi visits the US later in September, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will honour the success of Swachh …

10 crore toilets built under Swachh Bharat Mission: President Ram Nath Kovind
5 years, 4 months ago

10 crore toilets built under Swachh Bharat Mission: President Ram Nath Kovind

India TV News  

Around 10 crore toilets have been built under the Swachh Bharat Mission, and with this there has been a change in the attitude of 55 crore people who have ceased the practise of defecating in open, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Friday. Recalling the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention held in 2018, he said several countries want to learn …

Economic Survey 2018-19: Private funds needed for Swachh Bharat
5 years, 6 months ago

Economic Survey 2018-19: Private funds needed for Swachh Bharat

The Hindu  

With the Centre claiming that 99.2% of rural India is now open defecation free, the next big goal on the Swachh Bharat journey is the 100% safe and scientific disposal of solid and liquid waste, according to the Economic Survey 2018-19. However, it emphasises that the large resources needed to reach this milestone will need to be met through crowd …

Economic Survey: Many states became open defecation free since launch of Swachh Bharat
5 years, 6 months ago

Economic Survey: Many states became open defecation free since launch of Swachh Bharat

The Hindu  

Many states have achieved 100% open defecation free status and individual household latrine coverage since the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission, one of the largest cleanliness drives in the world, the Economic Survey 2018-19 said Thursday. The survey document, tabled in Parliament, said since the launch of the flagship programme in October 2014, over 9.5 crore toilets have been built …

Uptick for India on sanitation in UN report
5 years, 6 months ago

Uptick for India on sanitation in UN report

The Hindu  

India has made great gains in providing basic sanitation facilities since the start of the millennium, accounting for almost two thirds of the 650 million people globally who stopped practising open defecation between 2000 and 2017. “India’s Swachh Bharat mission has been an example and inspiration to other countries, especially in Africa, but also East and South Asia,” said Mr. …

Few central government schemes that helped BJP in coming back to power with a greater mandate
5 years, 7 months ago

Few central government schemes that helped BJP in coming back to power with a greater mandate

Op India  

In a historic win, the BJP clinched a total of 303 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and a total of 353 seats for the BJP led NDA. According to the official government website, since 2nd October 2014 more than 9 crore toilets have been built achieving an overall 99.17% of access to toilets in rural households till date. …

93% of rural households now have access to toilets, over 9 crore toilets built under Swachh Bharat Mission
5 years, 10 months ago

93% of rural households now have access to toilets, over 9 crore toilets built under Swachh Bharat Mission

Op India  

Under the NDA government’s flagship scheme the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’, over 93 percent of rural households in India now have access to toilets out of which around 96.5 percent households have used the facility. A national survey, conducted by an Independent Agency under the World Bank support to #SwachBharatMission, has found that 93.4% of households in rural India who have …

Ladies VROOM
5 years, 10 months ago

Ladies VROOM

Deccan Chronicle  

Lending a hand to the Swachh Bharat initiative, a couple in Pune is providing sanitation solutions for women, with aesthetically designed toilets from scrapped old buses. a The sanitation entrepreneurs have been in the business of providing portable toilets for events and construction sites for the last two decades but this time, the duo wanted to push the envelope further. …

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