Swachh Bharat Mission and ODF Plus Status

April 3, 2023

India has been facing several challenges related to sanitation, and to overcome these issues, the Indian government launched the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) in 2014. The mission aims to achieve universal sanitation coverage and make the country open defecation free.

Indian Government’s Goal for Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)

The Centre aims to bring around 50,000 more villages across India under the Open Defecation Free (ODF) plus status under the SBM by 2024. This means that these villages will have sustained their ODF status, ensured solid and liquid waste management, and will be visually clean. This is a significant milestone for India’s sanitation scheme. To achieve this, the Centre will provide ₹14,030 crore fund in FY24.

States that achieved the ODF plus status

Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka are the states that have achieved the ODF plus status. Tamil Nadu has a coverage percentage of 96% under the ODF plus status. The Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat informed the press about the ODF plus status of these states.

States Actively Pursuing ODF Plus Status

Apart from the three states mentioned above, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Mizoram are actively working towards achieving the ODF plus status. These states are making significant efforts to improve their sanitation facilities, ensuring efficient management of wastes and maintaining a visually clean environment.

Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)

The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is another critical mission launched by the Indian government. The mission’s aim is to provide safe and adequate drinking water via individual household tap connections by next year to all households in rural parts of the country. The government is in line to achieve this mission by 2024. In the current financial year, Q4 witnessed the installation of 86,894 connections each second on average.

National Scheme Sanctioning Committee (NSSC)

The National Scheme Sanctioning Committee (NSSC) is a committee that approves State/UT budgets for SBM-G Phase II activities. Recently, the committee 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. This shows the government’s commitment towards achieving the goals set under the SBM.

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