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By Abhishek Anand: The Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), a key initiative of the BJP-led government at the Centre, has achieved a milestone with over 34 per cent of villages declared open defecation free (ODF). As per a reply to an RTI filed by Kerala-based campaigner K Govindan Nampoothiry, the government has no separate data on expenditure on publicity and advertising in the SBM (Gramin) mission.
“Around Rs 74,714.12 crore has been spent on the SBM (G) Mission from May 2014 to 10th March 2023. But the total utilisation of funds by 34 states is Rs 80,372.39 crore,” said Govindan, quoting the RTI reply by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, which overlooks the SBM.
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“Under the second phase of SBM(G), out of 5,95,107 villages, 2,04,069 (34.29 per cent) villages have been declared ODF Plus as of March 13. The second phase is now being implemented with a focus on ODF sustainability and to make arrangements for Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) in all villages that are ODF Plus, by 2024-25,” he said quoting the RTI reply.
The number of villages covered with Solid Waste Management is – 142808. Liquid Waste Management is covered in 153425 villages, the RTI reply stated.
WHAT IS OPEN DEFECATION FREE?
According to the mission launched by the Centre, the term ODF is the termination of faecal-oral transmission, defined by:
- No visible faeces found in the environment/village; and
- Every household as well as public/community institutions uses safe technology and options for the disposal of faeces.
Here, safe technology, as per the SBM, means no contamination of surface soil, groundwater or surface water, excreta inaccessible to flies or animals. It aims at a surrounding that is free from handling fresh excreta and freedom from odour and unsightly conditions.
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