Lok Sabha Question No. 1097 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-21
Subject: ODF Villages
Ministry: DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
Asked by: JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA, NINONG ERING

## Government of India

## Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1097

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21-12-2017

## ODF Villages

## 1097. SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA: SHRI NINONG ERING:

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

- (a)  whether  a  large  number  of  villagesin  several  districts  have  been  certified  as'Open Defecation Free' (ODF) across thecountry under the Swachh Bharat Mission(SBM);
- (b)  if  so,  whether  any  central  teamhad  visited  any  of  the  districts  across  thecountry  to physically  verify the claimsmade by the State Governmentsabout 'ODF' district/villages in the pastone year;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  the  number of  districts  across  thecountry  still  remain  'ODF'  and  thesteps  taken  by  the Union Governmentto effectively implement the SBM?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION (SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)

- (a)  As  on  19.12.2017, 2,93,753 villages  have  been  declared  Open  Defecation  Free  (ODF) andout of which 1, 81,771 villages have been verified for ODF.
- (b) & (c)Yes, Madam.  This Ministry has engaged National Level Monitors (NLMs). These NLMs have been deputed for field verification of ODF villages/Districts. Also, the officers from Ministry regularly visit to the States/Districts for random physical verification of ODF claims.
- (d) 256 districts  have been declared ODF as on 19.12.2017. Out of which 165 districts are verified for ODF. The following measures have been taken for effective implementation of programme :-
- 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  the  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 and  programme  management.  Lack  of  adequate  capacities  is  a  major  challenge  in scaling up the programme. 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  levelCollector-has been roped in the programme to provide leadership at the district level.
- The programme is being run as a janandolan with cooperation of all sections of the society including the NGOs, Corporates, youth etc. The Panchayats are being actively involved.
- ZilaSwachhataPreraks are being engaged for support of districts.