Lok Sabha Question No. 2168 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-08
Subject: Progress under SBM
Ministry: DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
Asked by: M. B. RAJESH

## Government of India

## Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2168 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08-03-2018

## Progress under SBM

## 2168. SHRI M.B. RAJESH:

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

- (a)  whether  the  much  proclaimed  Swachh  Bharat  Mission-Gramin  (SBM-G)  is  witnessing poor progress as per recent estimates and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any State-wise difference is observed in failure/delay in its implementation and if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
- (c)  whether  building  of  toilets  is  only  a  small  part  of  the  movement  towards  access  to sanitation for all and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government is facing any difficulties in implementation of the SBM-G; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)

- (a)  The  Swachh  Bharat  Mission  (Gramin)  (SBM(G))  has  been  launched  on  2nd  October, 2014, which aims at attaining Swachh Bharat by 2 nd October 2019. The focus of the scheme is  on  behavior  change  and  usage  of  toilets.  Good  progress  haves  been  registered  under SBM(G). Against the expected outcome of 50 lakh individual latrines for the year 2014-15, 58,54,987 latrines were constructed, which is an achievement of 117% of the target. During 2015-16, 127.41 lakh toilets were constructed against expected outcome of 120.00 lakh . For the year 2016-17 , against the expected outcome of 1.5 crore individual latrines, 2,19,24,332 individual latrines (123%) have been constructed . For the year 2017-18 , against the expected outcome of 1.7 crore individual latrines, 2,29,04,471 individual latrines (135%) have been constructed as on date. Sanitation Coverage, which was 38.7% on 2.10.2014 , has increased to 78.98%  as on date . A total of 323560 Villages, 1,42,757 Gram Panchayats, 2,893 Blocks and 314 District  have  declared  themselves  as  Open  Defecation  Free  (ODF)  as  on date. In addition,  11  States/UT, Sikkim,  Himachal Pradesh, Kerala,  Uttarakhand, Haryana, Gujarat, Chandigarh, Daman and Diu, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh & Meghalaya  are  ODF as per Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of SBM(G).

(b) The Sanitation coverage in the States of Bihar, Odisha, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand,  Tripura  and  Goa  is  below  the  national  average.  The  sanitation  coverage  of Rajasthan, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Mizoram, Punjab, West Bengal and Tamilnadu  is more than 90% .

(c) Sanitation is mainly a behavioral issue. The focus of Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) is on  behaviour  change  of  people  to  adopt  safe  sanitation  and  use  toilet.  In  order  to  create awareness among people, the programme lays emphasis on community involvement.  Up to 8% of total resources can be spent on Information, Education and Communication (IEC).

(d) and (e) Sanitation is primarily a behavior change issue. It involves changing the mindset of people to stop open defecation and to adopt safe sanitation practices. Since this requires engagement  of  community  and  skill  in  facilitation,  the  process  takes  some  time.  The challenges pertain to capacity building of the implementing machinery, continuing focus on community  involvement  and  bring  about  collective  (i.e.  village  as  a  whole)  behaviour change, promoting technological innovations, streamlining financial /programme management  and  converging  other  developmental  schemes  with  sanitation  to  promote sustainability.