Lok Sabha Question No. 1024 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-08
Subject: ODF States
Ministry: DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
Asked by: R. GOPALAKRISHNAN

## Government of India

## Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1024 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08-02-2018

## ODF States

## 1024. SHRI R.GOPALAKRISHNAN:

Will the Minister of DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION be pleased to state :

(a) whether it is a fact that only a fewStates have become Open Defecation Free(ODF) in the country and if so, the detailsthereof and the reasons therefor;

(b) the details of the steps taken/beingtaken by the Government to make all theStates in the country ODF;

(c) whether it is also a fact that anumber of States have provided fake datato show that their States are ODF; and

(d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  thesteps  taken  by  the  Union  Government  tocurb  such practices?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION

## (SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)

(a) Till date, 11 States/UT namely Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Gujarat, Chandigarh, Daman and Diu, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Meghalaya have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF).

- (b) The following steps have been taken/being taken by Government to make all the States inthe country ODF:-
- Focus  on  behavior  change:  Community  based  collective  behavior  change  has  been mentioned  as  the  preferred  approach,  although  the  States  are  free  to  choose  the approach best suited to them. Focus is also on creation of complete open defecation free (ODF) villages, rather than only on construction of individual toilets. This entails triggering the entire village into changing their behavior.
- The  programme  provides  flexibility  to  the  States  in  its  implementation.  This  is essential, given the vast socio-economic-cultural diversity of India, and also from the point of view of promoting innovations.
- There is a greater emphasis on capacity building, especially in community approaches to  sanitation  and  programme  management.  Therefore,  various  initiatives  are  being taken  to  reach  out  to  all  the  stakeholders.  From  the  Government  of  India  side,  the States and select organizations (called Key Resource Centres) are being trained. These in turn are, carrying out trainings at the sub-State level. The key official at the district level/Collector-has been roped in the programme to provide leadership at the district

level. They are being exposed to best practices, both through workshops and exposure visits. More than 530 Collectors from across the country have been trained till date.

- The programme is being run as a janandolan with cooperation of all sections of the society  including  NGOs,  Corporates,  youth  etc.  The  Panchayats  are  being  actively involved.
- There is an emphasis on streamlining administrative and financial procedures, both to cut down on time, as well as to increase accountability.
- Innovations in technology is being promoted at the National and State levels. There is a National Committee under Prof. R.A.Mashelkar that examines all new technologies from the point of view of safety and feasibility.
- Sanitation is being prioritized amongst the overall development agenda. The Government  has  taken  a  decision  to  prioritize  all  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  in ODF  villages.    Various  other  development  schemes  are  being  converged  with  the sanitation outcomes.
- Monitoring and Evaluation has also been strengthened. The online IMIS (Integrated Management Information System) has data up to household level, with provision to capture  geo-tagged  photographs  of  toilets.  A  Swachhtamobile  App  has  also  been developed that provides online information on sanitation status up to household level. Citizens can also do ranking of swachhta on the Swachh App.
- ZilaSwachhBharat Preraks are being engaged for support of districts.
- Web portal of SwachhSangrahhas been developed for knowledge sharing.

(c) No, Madam.

(d) Does not arise.