The Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U), aimed at making Urban India Open Defecation Free (ODF), has reached its target milestone. Under the program, urban areas in 35 states and Union Territories (UTs) have accomplished ODF status, as certified by third-party verification.
Key initiatives were launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to ensure the project’s success. These innovative programs included the ODF, ODF+, and ODF++ Protocol, each designed with specific norms to address various facets of sanitation and cleanliness in urban spaces.
Understanding the ODF, ODF+ and ODF++ Protocols
Under the ODF protocol, no visible faeces should be found in the environment and all households and public or community institutions should utilize safe technology options for faecal disposal.
The ODF+ protocol mandates that no person should be defecating and/or urinating in open spaces. It also requires that all community and public toilets should be well-maintained and cleaned regularly.
The ODF++ protocol focuses on the proper treatment and management of faecal sludge, septage, and sewage. There should be no discharge or dumping of untreated faecal sludge, septage, and sewage into drains, water bodies or open areas.
Water + Protocol and Star Rating System for Garbage-Free Cities
In addition to these protocols, the Water + Protocol was designed to ensure that no untreated wastewater is discharged into the open environment or water bodies.
The star rating protocol for Garbage-free cities is another remarkable initiative under SBM-U. Based on twelve parameters, this rating system follows a SMART (Single metric, Measurable, Achievable, Rigorous verification mechanism and Targeted towards outcomes) framework. To date, four cities – Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Ambikapur (Chattisgarh), Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra) and Mysuru (Karnataka) have earned the prestigious 5-star rating.
Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and Plastic Waste Management
| City | Rating |
|---|---|
| Indore (Madhya Pradesh) | 5-Star |
| Ambikapur (Chattisgarh) | 5-Star |
| Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra) | 5-Star |
| Mysuru (Karnataka) | 5-Star |
Collaborating with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), MoHUA is also utilizing plastic waste for road construction. Cities are encouraged to establish adequate Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) for the segregation, processing and recycling of plastic waste.
Swachh Surevkshan: Assessing Cleanliness of Indian Cities and Towns
As part of its continuous commitment to cleanliness, MoHUA rolled out Swachh Survekshan 2020 (SS 2020), a quarterly cleanliness assessment of urban spaces across the nation. This initiative serves as a benchmark to encourage competition among different cities and towns to improve their sanitation and cleanliness practices.