Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM): A Global Model for Sanitation Reform
The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) is India’s biggest sanitation and hygiene reform initiative, launched on 2nd October 2014, with the aim of achieving universal sanitation coverage, eliminating open defecation, and ensuring scientific solid and liquid waste management. It consists of two components: SBM-Gramin for rural areas and SBM-Urban for cities and towns. In October 2019, all states, districts, and villages were declared Open Defecation Free (ODF)—a historic shift in India’s sanitation landscape.
Key Achievements of SBM Phase I
1. Health Gains: WHO estimated that improved sanitation under SBM resulted in 3 lakh fewer diarrhoeal deaths in 2019 compared to 2014. Reduction in bacterial contamination in drinking water led to improved child health indicators.
2. Economic Savings: Households in ODF-certified villages saved nearly ₹50,000 annually due to reduced medical expenses and better productivity. Improved sanitation supports tourism, labour productivity, and environmental compliance.
3. Environmental Protection: Significant reduction in groundwater contamination from open defecation. Better waste management practices helped reduce pathogen load in soil and surface water.
4. Women’s Safety and Dignity: Over 93% of women reported feeling safer and more dignified due to access to toilets at home. School sanitation facilities improved attendance of adolescent girls and reduced dropout rates.
ODF Plus Village
An 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. There are 3 progressive stages of ODF Plus villages:
1. ODF Plus Aspiring: A Village which is sustaining its ODF status and has arrangements for Solid Waste Management OR Liquid Waste Management.
2. ODF Plus Rising: A village which is sustaining its ODF status and has arrangements for BOTH Solid Waste Management and Liquid Waste Management.
3. ODF Plus Model: A village which is sustaining its ODF status and has arrangements for both Solid Waste Management and Liquid Waste Management; observes visual cleanliness, and displays ODF Plus Information, Education & Communication (IEC) messages.
India’s progress in sanitation under the Swachh Bharat Mission reflects a clear shift from access to sustainability. In rural areas, villages have steadily advanced from being declared open defecation free to achieving ODF Plus and ODF Plus Model status, showing strong community participation in maintaining facilities. Urban centers, meanwhile, have surpassed targets for household and public toilet construction, ensuring that sanitation infrastructure keeps pace with growing populations.
ODF++, Rural and Urban Sanitation Progress under SBM
What is ODF Plus Plus (ODF++)?
ODF++ refers to areas where:
There is no open defecation.
All toilets are functional and well-maintained.
Faecal sludge and sewage are safely collected, transported, treated, and disposed without discharge into open drains, water bodies, or the environment.
It reflects a transition from toilet construction to holistic sanitation management.
Rural Sanitation Progress (SBM–Gramin)
Key Achievements
| Indicator |
Progress |
| Villages declared ODF Plus |
Over 95% of all villages |
| Growth in ODF Plus villages |
Increased by 467% (from 1 lakh in Dec 2022 to 5.67 lakh villages) |
| ODF Plus Model Villages |
4,85,818 villages |
Urban Sanitation Progress (SBM–Urban)
ODF Status of Cities
| Category |
Number of Cities |
| ODF |
4,692 |
| ODF+ |
4,314 |
| ODF++ |
1,973 |
Toilet Construction Under SBM–Urban
1. Individual Household Latrines (IHHL)
Construction Achieved: 108.62%
Constructed: 63,74,355
Mission Target: 58,99,637
2. Community & Public Toilets (CT/PT)
Construction Achieved: 125.46%
Constructed: 6,38,826
Mission Target: 5,07,587
Water–Sanitation Synergy: AMRUT & Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)
1. AMRUT: Strengthening Urban Water & Wastewater Systems
| Component |
Details |
| About AMRUT |
• Launched in 2015 for urban water supply, sewerage, and septage management.
• AMRUT 2.0 (2021): Universal coverage of sewerage & septage management across all ULBs; focused implementation in 500 cities. |
| Key Achievements (as of 21 Aug 2025) |
Sewerage & Septage Infrastructure
• 890 projects grounded worth ₹34,447 crore
• 4,622 MLD sewage treatment capacity created
– Includes 1,437 MLD for reuse/recycling |
| State/UT Level Projects |
• 586 projects worth ₹68,461.78 crore undertaken
• Approved sewage treatment capacity: 6,964 MLD
– 1,938.96 MLD earmarked for reuse/recycling |
| Impact of AMRUT |
• Strengthened urban wastewater networks
• Reduced untreated sewage discharge
• Promoted circular water economy via treated wastewater reuse
• Improved urban sanitation & environmental outcomes |
2. Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): Water–Sanitation Convergence in Rural India
| Component |
Details |
| About JJM |
• Launched in August 2019.
• Aims to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to all rural households. |
| Key Features |
• Safe & adequate drinking water supply
• Support to ODF & ODF+ sustainability
• Greywater management
• Strengthened village water governance |
| Role in Sanitation |
• Reliable piped water improves toilet usage and cleanliness
• Reduces dependence on unsafe water sources → lowers disease incidence
• Strengthens handwashing, hygiene, and ODF sustainability |
3. Water–Sanitation Synergy: AMRUT + JJM
| Area |
Synergistic Outcomes |
| Water Availability |
Ensures piped water supply in both urban (AMRUT) and rural (JJM) areas. |
| Sanitation Improvement |
Better toilet usage, sewerage access, and reduced open defecation recurrence. |
| Health Impact |
Reduced water-borne diseases, improved community hygiene. |
| Sustainability |
Reuse of treated wastewater, long-term operation & maintenance systems. |
| Inclusivity & Governance |
ULB-level reforms under AMRUT + village-level committees under JJM improve participation and accountability. |
Conclusion
India’s sanitation journey reflects a transformation from addressing open defecation to building sustainable systems of hygiene and waste management. Through initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Mission, AMRUT, and the Jal Jeevan Mission, the country has moved beyond infrastructure creation to ensuring dignity, inclusivity, and long-term cleanliness. With observance of important events like International Toilet Day, these efforts not only strengthen public health but also align with global commitments under Sustainable Development Goal 6, positioning India as a leader in advancing safe sanitation for all.
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