Over one lakh villages have declared themselves as open defecation free (ODF) Plus. Jal Shakti Ministry said, these villages are sustaining their ODF status and have systems in place for managing solid and liquid waste. They are also working towards making their villages cleaner, greener and healthier.
The top five performing states are Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh where maximum number of villages have been declared as ODF Plus.
Prime Minister Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Mission, almost eight years ago, with a vision to make the country open defecation free. The Ministry said Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen reinforces the Government’s commitment to promote hygiene and safe sanitation and thereby improve the quality of life of its citizens.
ODF plus
ODF plus village is defined as “a village which sustains its Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, ensures solid and liquid waste management and is visually clean.”
This includes ensuring that all households in a village, as well as the Primary School, Panchayat Ghar and Anganwadi Centre, have access to a toilet and that all public places and at least 80% of households effectively manage their solid and liquid waste and have a minimal litter and minimal stagnant water.