Has Swachh Bharat Mission really made India 96% open defecation free?

Has Swachh Bharat Mission really made India 96% open defecation free?

The Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin’s achievements are built on shaky data left behind by the UPA government

Economy & Policy: The Census 2011 told us only 32% of India’s rural households had toilets. Other studies showed that a fewer number of those households actually used those toilets.

Under the Narendra Modi government’s Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), much has changed. Firstly, commitment has come from the highest level of government, especially the prime minister. By all accounts, the secretary in charge of SBM is a remarkably driven man.

Secondly, under SBM, for the first time, the government is focusing on changing behaviour on a large scale. In fact, India is implementing the world’s largest collective behaviour movement for rural sanitation.

Third, there is new focus on verification of ODF (open defecation free) status by monitoring toilet use. Earlier it was counting the number of toilets built.

SBM guidelines specifically state that the focus has to now be on counting ODF villages. However, the two have gone together (as we show below).

Fourth, money has been allocated on a scale hitherto unheard of to hire the staff to mobilise communities around sanitation. Half a million Swachhagrahis have been deployed in…read more

→News Source:BS/Business Standard←