The shocking revelation that India has made the most significant decrease in open defecation since 2015 comes from a recent report by the Wash Institute, a global non-profit organization. The report also stresses the importance of universal water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) access in achieving the United Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.
Understanding WASH
WASH represents the interconnected areas of water, sanitation, and hygiene. The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) WASH strategy for 2018-25 was developed to achieve SDG 3: Good Health and Well Being, and SDG 6: Clean Water And Sanitation. This strategy forms part of WHO’s 13th General Programme of Work 2019–2023, aimed at improving the health of three billion people through various actions such as improved emergency preparedness and response, and Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Key Report Findings
The findings of the report offer insights into open defecation rates in India, SDG 6 progress, and notable challenges. Open defecation varied greatly across regions, but decreased in all states by 2016. The most significant reductions were seen in Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. While progress was slow in sub-Saharan Africa.
Progress Towards SDG 6
Between 2016 and 2020, the global population with access to safely managed drinking water at home increased from 70% to 74%. There’s been an improvement in at-source water resources and onsite sanitation systems.
Challenges to Overcome
For long term sustainability of both centralised and decentralised sanitation, adequate funding and investment are essential. The report also highlighted the need for better hygiene, especially amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Worldwide Hand Hygiene
In June 2020, WHO and Unicef launched the ‘Hand Hygiene for All’ initiative to improve access to handwashing infrastructure. Despite this, around three in ten people worldwide were unable to wash their hands with soap and water at home during the pandemic due to a lack of resources.
Open Defecation Defined
Open defecation refers to the practice of defecating in open spaces instead of toilets. This practice poses significant health risks, particularly to children, and exposes women to danger. It also hampers national development by diverting money away from productive investments like education.
Government Initiatives
The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti has launched a 10-year Rural Sanitation Strategy from 2019 to 2029. Other initiatives include Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen Phase-II which emphasizes on the sustainability of achievements under phase I and provides facilities for waste management in rural India.
Defining ODF, ODF+, ODF++ Status
ODF refers to a region where no one is found defecating in the open. ODF+ status is assigned when all community and public toilets are functional and well maintained. ODF++ status is given when the area is ODF+ and the faecal sludge, septage and sewage are safely managed and treated, with no discharge or dumping of untreated waste into open drains, water bodies, or areas.
