Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban)

It was launched as a mission mode 5 year programme (2014-2019) to eradicate ills of open defecation and ensuring proper solid waste management system. It is a flagship scheme of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

ODF Progress

• India achieved the target of getting ODF status nationally as all states declared ODF by October, 2019 (150^th Gandhi Jayanti). More than 9 crore toilets (both households and community combined) have been built.
• ODF+ and ODF++ protocols have been launched. ODF+ focuses on maintenance of community toilets whereas ODF++ focuses on addressing safe management of faecal sludge.

Progress of Solid Waste Management System

• As per latest statistics (2019), 72,503 wards out of 84,229 wards, i.e. 86% of wards, are practicing 100% door to door collection, 51,114 wards out of 84,229 wards, i.e. 60.7% of wards, are practicing 100% source segregation, and 51.26% of waste generated is being processed which was close to 18% in 2014.
• Policy on Promotion of Waste to Compost and Electricity has been launched. Also, Policy on Promotion of reuse and recycle of Construction & Demolition Waste too has been launched to ensure proper waste disposal.
• Initiatives like ‘Star Rating protocol for garbage free cities’ has been launched by MoHUA.
• Swachh Survekshan Survey, Swachhata Selfie etc. initiatives have helped in achieving the target of the scheme.
• Challenges which still exist–addressing partial use of toilet and maintaining the ODF status of villages, changing mindset of people about open defecation, retrofitting sustainably unsafe toilets, prevalent practice of manual scavenging etc.
• Suggestions to overcome the above challenges – Initiatives like ODF+ and ODF++ must be implemented with all seriousness as it will address the issues of maintenance of ODF status and faecal disposal management, Proper information dissemination and creating awareness about ills of open defecation etc.