The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) recently issued new norms for towns and cities aiming to achieve Open Defecation Free Plus (ODF+) and Open Defecation Free Plus Plus (ODF++) status under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) ODF+ and ODF++ protocol. Notably, this marks the first time public urination eradication will be incorporated into the SBM (Urban) agenda.
ODF Status: The New Norms
In order to obtain the ODF designation, there should be no visible faeces in the environment. Every household, as well as public and community institutions, are required to use safe technology options for disposing of faeces.
The ODF+ Criteria
To fulfill the ODF+ criteria, there should not be a single person defecating or urinating in open spaces at any point during the day. Additionally, all community and public toilets must be properly maintained and cleaned.
What Makes a City ODF++?
The ODF++ status includes strict standards for the proper treatment and management of faecal sludge, septage, and sewage. It mandates that there should be no discharge or dumping of untreated faecal sludge, septage, and sewage in drains, water bodies, or open areas.
Urban Areas: The Primary Focus of the Mission
The issue in urban areas is not non-usage of toilets, but a lack of clean toilets. People are often left with no choice but to engage in open defecation due to the absence of clean, usable toilets. Hence, the mission underscores the need for cleanliness, accessibility, and visibility in urban sanitation.
Public Urination: A Concern for Behaviour Change
Public urination, particularly by men, is primarily a behaviour change issue. Even when toilets are accessible, men often resort to using roads as public urinals.
Other Initiatives: Swachh Manch Web Portal
The Swachh Manch is a web-based platform designed to unite all stakeholders contributing to the Swachh Bharat Mission. This platform enables stakeholders to create, invite and participate in volunteering opportunities around neighbourhoods. The Swachh Manch will also be integrated with the existing Swachhata App to serve as a citizens’ grievance redressal platform.
Swachh Survekshan 2019
Swachh Survekshan is a ranking exercise conducted by the Government of India to assess the cleanliness level and active implementation of Swachhata mission initiatives in rural and urban areas. The survey provides an innovative approach to timely assessment. Swachh Survekshan –Rural is conducted by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, while the urban version is conducted by the MoHUA.
Past Performance: Highlights from Swachh Survekshan 2016, 2017, 2018
Since its inception, Swachh Survekshan has grown in scope, with the survey size expanding from 73 cities in 2016 to 4,203 cities in 2018. Some interesting insights gleaned from Swachh Survekshan 2018 include that 79% of residents found their area cleaner than the previous year, and 73,875 waste-pickers were provided a formal livelihood. Moreover, in 137 cities, more than 60% of the bulk garbage generators had started on-site composting.