Nearly 5.67 lakh villages across India have now been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus, marking a 467% increase from around 1 lakh villages in 2022, according to data released by the Jal Shakti Ministry on World Toilet Day, November 19.

Key Highlights:

• 4.86 lakh villages have achieved the ODF Plus Model, meaning they sustain open-defecation-free status, manage both solid and liquid waste, and maintain visual cleanliness.
• The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and sustained government support are credited for this transformation. The Centre has assisted states in constructing over 12 crore toilets across rural and urban areas.
• This massive toilet coverage has led to a behavioural shift, with over 95% of villages now ODF Plus, and millions of people who previously practiced open defecation now using toilets.
• Improved sanitation has saved lives, with an estimated 3 lakh children protected due to better hygiene and sanitation practices.

Urban Sanitation Progress:

• Over 63.7 lakh household toilets have been constructed in urban areas, exceeding targets by 108%.
• Public/community toilets have surpassed mission targets by 125%.

Complementary Initiatives:

• Programs like Jal Jeevan Mission and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation have strengthened sanitation outcomes through sewerage networks, septage management, and piped water supply.

Since the launch of SBM in 2014, India has moved from merely eliminating open defecation to building systems that maintain sanitation, manage waste, and protect water sources, with a focus on sustainability under SBM–Gramin Phase II.

This milestone underscores India’s progress in making sanitation a mass movement and ensuring public health and hygiene across rural and urban areas.