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

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 significant stride toward realising the objectives of Phase II of the Swachh Bharat Mission by 2024-25. In nearly 10 years of the Swachh Bharat Mission, India has seen improved sanitary conditions, health benefits and a crucial behavioural change in village societies. ODF Journey So Far Nearly 10 years ago, PM Modi initiated the Swachh Bharat Mission from Red Fort in New Delhi in what was a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary by making India open defecation free.