Latest news with #ODFPlus
The Hindu
2 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
All 354 villages in Dakshina Kannada declared Open Defecation Free Plus
All 354 villages in Dakshina Kannada have been declared Open Defecation Free Plus up to August 4, as per Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen). All these villages have Solid Waste Management arrangements, and 337 villages have grey water management arrangement, the Union Government told the Lok Sabha on August 7. In response to a starred question by Captain Brijesh Chowta, member from Dakshina Kannada, Minister for Jal Shakti C. R. Patil stated that 8,476 individual household latrines (IHHLs) were built in the district till August 4, 2025 since the launch of SBM (G). Of these, 36 latrines were built during 2024-25. Progress of solid waste management in Dakshina Kannada (as on August 4, 2025) Components No. of Units Segregation shed 256 Waste Collection vehicle 197 Community Compost pits 251 GOBARdhan 3 Plastic Waste Management Units (PWMUs) 4 Progress of liquid waste management in Dakshina Kannada (as on August 4, 2025) Components No. of Units Individual soak pit 15,388 Kitchen Garden 2,71,444 Community soak pit 938 (Source: Union Ministry of Jal Shakti's reply in Lok Sabha on August 7, 2025) The Minister said that 196 Community Sanitary Complexes (CSCs), including one constructed during the last financial year, were built in the district since the launch of SBM (G). In the criteria to declare ODF Plus villages, the ministry defined an ODF Plus village 'as a village which sustains its Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, ensures solid and liquid waste management, and is visually clean'. SBM (G) Phase II The major interventions envisaged under SBM(G) Phase-II for solid waste and liquid management are management of organic waste through composting or bio-gas plants (GOBAR-dhan projects); provision for collection and storage of non-biodegradable (plastic) waste and material recovery facility; management of grey water through soak pits or leach pits, wherever possible, or through other technologies, such as waste stabilisation ponds, Faecal Sludge Management (FSM), wherever needed, through co-treatment in existing Sewage Treatment Plant facilities in nearby urban/rural areas, or trenching or setting up of FSM plant, as required, the Minister said. Eight more FSTPs under construction He said that faecal sludge management is being done through faecal sludge treatment plant (FSTP). The district has two FSTPs and eight more are being constructed. Referring to third-party verification, the Minister said that Karnataka government has intimated that an inter-taluk verification team has been constituted in the district to assess ODF Plus model villages, as per the guidelines of SBM(G). In addition, the Minister said, 'Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) have been established in gram panchayats to ensure community participation. Additionally, National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) Sanjeevini Women's Self-Help Groups have been engaged in managing solid and liquid waste, with support from local non-government organisations (NGOs) in implementing SBM(G) activities.' Fund utilisation The Minister said that all funds released to the district by the Union Government under SBM (G) for the last three financial years were utilised. The government had released ₹1.53 crore for 2024-25, ₹3.16 crore for 2023-24, and ₹8.30 crore for 2022-23. Convergence with MGNREGA Implementation of SBM(G) activities in the district was effectively supported through convergence with Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 14th and 15th Finance Commission grants, gram panchayats' own-source revenue, district and taluk panchayat development funds, the District Mineral Fund, and Corporate Social Responsibility contribution from private entities, the Minister said.
News18
22-07-2025
- General
- News18
80% villages have achieved ODF plus model status: C R Patil
Agency: PTI Last Updated: New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) About 80 per cent of the country's villages have achieved the 'ODF plus model' status, Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil announced on Tuesday. In a post on X, Patil said the 'milestone" reflects the success of the Swachh Bharat Mission and the transformative power of grassroots governance in building clean villages. 'Under the visionary leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister @narendramodi Sir, India has achieved a historic milestone, 80% of our villages are now ODF Plus Model villages," he said. 'This is not just a statistic; it reflects the strength of janbhagidari, the success of Swachh Bharat Mission and the transformative power of grassroots governance in building clean, healthy, and sustainable villages," he added. The minister called on the people to continue on the path of 'Swachhata (cleanliness) to Sampannata (prosperity)." The Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), also celebrating the achievement on social media, said the ODF plus model villages go beyond eliminating open defecation. These villages are also managing solid and liquid waste effectively and displaying visible cleanliness along with Swachhata-themed messaging, it said on X. An ODF plus model village is one that sustains its open defecation-free (ODF) status while ensuring effective waste management systems are in place, marking a deeper and more sustainable level of sanitation progress. This milestone is a part of Phase II of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), which was launched in 2020 to focus on sustaining ODF status and improving sanitation and waste management in rural India. PTI UZM RHL (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 22, 2025, 13:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Thiruvananthapuram Corporation achieves Water Plus status in Swachh Survekshan rankings
Thiruvananthapuram Corporation achieved the Water Plus status in the Swachh Survekshan rankings for 2024 put out by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to rank the cleanest cities in the country. In a press release, the Corporation authorities said that the achievement was a result of the efforts taken by the civic body to ensure scientific treatment of septage and sewerage waste. The factors considered in awarding the Water Plus certificate include the reuse of sewage water, implementation of an effective septage waste collection system, achievement of Open Defecation Free City (ODF) status, public toilet system, sewage treatment plants located at Muttathara and Medical College, and a 24-hour septage call centre in the municipality. Last year, the municipality was in the ODF Plus category. This year, it achieved the the ODF Plus Plus category. Kerala's municipalities have made significant improvements in the Swachh Survekshan rankings for 2024 put out by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to rank the cleanest cities in the country. As many as eight municipalities have secured ranks in the top 100 cleanest cities in the country. Last year, no municipality from the State featured in the top 100 list. Other toppers At the top of municipalities from the State is Kochi Corporation at rank 50 among all local bodies in the country. Kochi has made a giant leap, considering its last year's rank of 416 among cities and 1,815 overall. The other municipalities from Kerala in the top 100 are Mattannur (Rank 53), Thrissur Corporation (Rank 58), Kozhikode Corporation (Rank 70), Alappuzha Municipality (Rank 80), Guruvayur Municipality (Rank 82), Thiruvananthapuram Corporation (Rank 89) and Kollam Corporation (Rank 93).
Hans India
26-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
Plastic-for-meals, pads-for-waste: Rural India reimagining sanitation solutions
India's path to reaching the milestone of having 77 per cent of its villages as a ODF Plus Model has been quietly paved by local experiments -- from plastic-for-meals drives to tourism-funded waste management systems. A village can attain ODF Plus Model status once it sustains its open defecation-free position, has arrangements for both solid and liquid waste management, observes visual cleanliness, and displays ODF Plus information, education and communication messages. Going by official data, more than 5.10 lakh villages have arrangements for solid waste disposal while over 5.26 lakh have systems for liquid waste management. More than 1,200 biogas plants are registered and over 6.38 lakh vehicles have been deployed for waste collection. Yet, beyond these statistics, it is the local leadership and community-led initiatives that are shaping how rural India is managing its waste. With plastic waste being a significant hindrance to sanitation, Suman Dangi of Karnal district in Haryana has adopted an ingenuous way to solve the problem -- bring 500 grams of clean, recyclable plastic and get a hot meal in return. She and her self-help group launched the initiative with a Rs 50,000 loan and have since collected over 1,500 kg of plastic and served more than 3,000 meals. Running the programme at the Atal Kisan Mazdoor Canteen in Bhushli village, Dangi said the idea was born out of necessity. 'Plastic is everywhere and people are hungry. We found a way to tackle both,' she says. A similar social initiative is unfolding in Uttar Pradesh's Sonbhadra district. Here, women are trying to address plastic pollution and menstrual hygiene together. Christened 'Mera Plastic, Meri Jimmedari', women from Unchadeeh village are given a pack of sanitary pads for every two kg of plastic waste they collect. Initiated by Archana Tripathi, the village head, the program has seen support from health workers and school teachers who are encouraging women and girls to collect used plastic items. 'It's a small effort but it helps break taboos around menstruation while reducing plastic litter,' Tripathi said. In neighbouring Ghorawal block, Parmeshwar Pal, a village head, has taken on the task of collecting plastic waste in an e-rickshaw daily while urging locals to reduce single-use plastic. 'It's not glamorous work, but it starts conversations and changes habits,' he said. In the hill state of Uttarakhand, a revenue-backed waste management model has emerged in Sirasu village along the Ganga river. Once lacking basic sanitation, the village is now an ODF Plus Model site that funds its cleanliness drive through tourism. Since 2018, the local panchayat has charged Rs 1,000 for pre-wedding photoshoots and rented out tents and lighting equipment to generate Rs 50 lakh revenue over the years. The funds are used to maintain toilets, operate plastic waste collection centres, and improve infrastructure for the growing number of tourists. 'The photoshoots bring money that keeps the village clean,' said a member of the village panchayat. Community spirit and wisdom have transformed Niuland district's Ghokito village, just a kilometre from Kuhuboto town in Nagaland, into an ODF Plus Model Village that has 86 households and a population of just over 500. At the heart of Ghokito's waste management lies a simple yet powerful practice: backyard farming. Kitchen scraps like vegetable peels and leftovers are cooked with wheat bran and green leafy vegetables to create feed for pigs, raised by nearly every household. This turns waste into a resource for the livestock and reduces landfill waste. Children also play a vital role in Ghokito's sustainability efforts. Every week, students from the Sunday school collect plastic waste from homes and by-lanes, segregating it for sale to a recycling network. The earnings fund their ministry activities, creating a cycle of community benefit. Cleanliness in Ghokito is a culture, not a one-time effort. A water and sanitation committee conducts monthly inspections to ensure toilets are clean and functional, with special attention to the hygiene of migrant workers. Although the Central government has focused on infrastructure push with over 1,825 rural plastic waste units set up, the stories from Bhushli, Ghokito, Unchadeeh, and Sirasu highlight a shift in approach: local solutions for local problems. 'Whether through informal barters or leveraging tourism, rural India's waste crisis is being tackled in ways that go beyond policy documents,' a senior official said. As India moves closer to its sanitation targets, the next challenge will be sustaining these efforts and ensuring they remain community-led and economically viable, the official added.
The Print
24-05-2025
- General
- The Print
Plastic-for-meals, pads-for-waste: Rural India reimagining sanitation solutions
Going by official data, more than 5.10 lakh villages have arrangements for solid waste disposal while over 5.26 lakh have systems for liquid waste management. More than 1,200 biogas plants are registered and over 6.38 lakh vehicles have been deployed for waste collection. A village can attain ODF Plus Model status once it sustains its open defecation-free position, has arrangements for both solid and liquid waste management, observes visual cleanliness, and displays ODF Plus information, education and communication messages. New Delhi, May 24 (PTI) India's path to reaching the milestone of having 77 per cent of its villages as ODF Plus Model has been quietly paved by local experiments — from plastic-for-meals drives to tourism-funded waste management systems. Yet, beyond these statistics, it is the local leadership and community-led initiatives that are shaping how rural India is managing its waste. With plastic waste being a significant hindrance to sanitation, Suman Dangi of Karnal district in Haryana has adopted an ingenuous way to solve the problem — bring 500 grams of clean, recyclable plastic and get a hot meal in return. She and her self-help group launched the initiative with a Rs 50,000 loan and have since collected over 1,500 kilograms of plastic and served more than 3,000 meals. Running the programme at the Atal Kisan Mazdoor Canteen in Bhushli village, Dangi said the idea was born out of necessity. 'Plastic is everywhere and people are hungry. We found a way to tackle both.' A similar social initiative is unfolding in Uttar Pradesh's Sonbhadra district. Here, women are trying to address plastic pollution and menstrual hygiene together. Christened 'Mera Plastic, Meri Jimmedari', women of the Unchadeeh village panchayat are given a pack of sanitary pads for every 2 kg of plastic waste they collect. Initiated by Archana Tripathi, the village head, the program has seen support from health workers and school teachers who are encouraging women and girls to collect used plastic items. 'It's a small effort but it helps break taboos around menstruation while reducing plastic litter,' Tripathi said. In neighbouring Ghorawal block, Parmeshwar Pal, a village head, has taken on the task of collecting plastic waste in an e-rickshaw daily while urging locals to reduce single-use plastic. 'It's not a glamorous work, but it starts conversations and changes habits,' he said. In the hill state of Uttarakhand, a revenue-backed waste management model has emerged in Sirasu village along the Ganga river. Once lacking basic sanitation, the village is now an ODF Plus Model site that funds its cleanliness drive through tourism. Since 2018, the local panchayat has charged Rs 1,000 for pre-wedding photo shoots and rented out tents and lighting equipment to generate Rs 50 lakh revenue over the years. The funds are used to maintain toilets, operate plastic waste collection centres, and improve infrastructure for the growing number of tourists. 'The photoshoots bring money that keeps the village clean,' said a member of the village panchayat. Community spirit and wisdom have transformed Niuland district's Ghokito village, just a kilometre from Kuhuboto town in Nagaland, into an ODF Plus Model Village that has 86 households and a population of just over 500. At the heart of Ghokito's waste management lies a simple yet powerful practice: backyard farming. Kitchen scraps like vegetable peels and leftovers are cooked with wheat bran and green leafy vegetables to create feed for pigs, raised by nearly every household. This turns waste into a resource for the livestock and reduces landfill waste. Children also play a vital role in Ghokito's sustainability efforts. Every week, students from the village's Sunday School collect plastic waste from homes and by-lanes, segregating it for sale to a recycling network. The earnings fund their ministry activities, creating a cycle of community benefit. Cleanliness in Ghokito is a culture, not a one-time effort. A water and sanitation committee conducts monthly inspections to ensure toilets are clean and functional, with special attention to the hygiene of migrant workers. Although the Central government has focused on infrastructure push with over 1,825 rural plastic waste units set up, the stories from Bhushli, Ghokito, Unchadeeh, and Sirasu highlight a shift in approach: local solutions for local problems. 'Whether through informal barters or leveraging tourism, rural India's waste crisis is being tackled in ways that go beyond policy documents,' a senior official said. As India moves closer to its sanitation targets, the next challenge will be sustaining these efforts and ensuring they remain community-led and economically viable, the official added. PTI UZM NSD NSD This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
