World Toilet Day is celebrated annually on the 19th of November, a global event aimed at raising awareness about sustainable sanitation. Ensuring people have access to water and sanitation for all by 2030 is one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), underlined by SDG 6, and is one of the focal points of the event. This article delves into why World Toilet Day is celebrated, its background and aim, India’s approach & achievements regarding sanitation, and an understanding of the Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBM-G), including its phases and top-performing states.
Purpose and Background of World Toilet Day
World Toilet Day was first observed in 2013 and has since become an annual event. The day aims to spark action to tackle the global sanitation crisis, a critical step towards achieving SDG 6: sanitation and clean water for everyone by 2030. The theme for the year 2022 is “Making the Invisible Visible”, spotlighting how inadequate sanitation systems can lead to pollution spread to rivers, lakes, soil, and precious underground water resources.
India’s Progress in Sustainable Sanitation
The Ministry of Jal Shakti has been proactive in its efforts, particularly under the Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBM-G) scheme. SBM-G, this year, is organising a ‘Swachhta Run’ across rural India. As the world’s largest behavior change program, SBM-G has already met SDG Target 6.2 by ensuring access to safe sanitation for all Indians. In 2019, India successfully achieved Open Defecation Free (ODF) status. The country continues to strive towards securing ODF+ status.
Understanding Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBM-G)
In 2014, the Ministry of Jal Shakti launched SBM-G with a goal to quicken the pace towards achieving universal sanitation and keeping a strong focus on hygiene. Initiated as a nationwide campaign known as Janandolan, the mission aimed at eliminating open defecation in rural areas.
During the Phase I of SBM(G), rural sanitation coverage in India increased from 38.7% at the launch of the campaign to being declared Open Defecation Free in 2019. More than 10 crore individual toilets were constructed during this period.
The focus of the second phase of SBM(G) is to ensure sustainability of its first phase’s accomplishments and to provide solid/liquid & plastic waste management facilities across rural India. This phase runs from 2020-21 to 2024-25 and has an earmarked budget of Rs. 1,40,881 crores. The output-outcome indicators for this phase include plastic waste management, biodegradable solid waste management, greywater management, and fecal sludge management.
Top Performing States
The top five performing states under the SBM(G) are Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh. These states boast of the highest number of villages that have been declared as ODF Plus.
Relevance in Civil Service Examination
World Toilet Day, sustainable sanitation, and initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBM-G) are relevant topics for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, with previous year questions touching upon their effective implementation and impact on society.