Year End Review – Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.

 

Year End Review – Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti

SWACHH BHARAT MISSION-GRAMEEN -PHASE II

Over 95% Villages In India Declared ODF Plus (as on 27th December, 2024) and Over 69% Villages in India Declared as ODF Plus Model Under Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen

A remarkable 460% surge in ODF Plus villages, from 1 Lakh villages in December 2022 to over 5.61 Lakh ODF Plus Villages in December 2024

Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti engaged in a vibrant dialogue with over 450 women on India’s 75th Republic Day,2024

Swachhata Hi Seva campaign from 17th- 2nd October 2024 receives mass participation from over 30 crore people.

World Toilet Day Campaign, Hamara Shauchalay, Hamara Samman mobilized over 38 lakh participants with more than 50,500 events and ensured functional improvement of over 1.54 lakh Community Sanitary Complexes (CSCs), covering more than 70% of existing facilities.

 01 JAN 2025  Delhi (prajaamaravati);

About Swachh Bharat Mission - Grameen

Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen (SBM-G), a centrally sponsored scheme, launched by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi on October 2, 2014, with an aim to make the country Open Defecation Free (ODF) by October 2, 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, by providing access to toilets to all the rural households in the country. As a result, by October 2019, all villages across the country, and consequently all 36 States/UTs, had declared themselves ODF and rural sanitation coverage increased from 39 percent in 2014 to 100 percent in 2019.

Having achieved the outcome of ODF, Phase-II of SBM (G) was launched in 2020 to ensure that no one is left behind in their pursuit for having Individual Household Toilets and proper waste management systems, making villages ODF Plus Model.

SBM-G Phase II Objectives:

The key objective of SBM(G) Phase II is to sustain the ODF status of villages and to improve the levels of cleanliness in rural areas through solid and liquid waste management activities, making all villages ODF Plus Model which includes: -

 

• ODF Sustainability
• Solid Waste Management
• Liquid Waste Management
• Visual Cleanliness

 

Key Highlights of 2024

• A remarkable 460% surge in ODF Plus villages, from 1 Lakh villages in December 2022 to over 5.61 Lakh ODF Plus Villages in December 2023
• The total programme outlay of SBM(G) Phase­ II is over Rs.1.40 lakh crore.

As per the SBM-G IMIS portal on Dec 24, 2024

• More than 11.77 crore Individual Household Latrines (IHHL) and 2.49 lakh Community Sanitary Complexes (CSC) have been constructed since October 2, 2014.
• 5,61,422 villages declared ODF Plus.
• 4,02,591 villages declared as ODF Plus Model 2,32,115 villages declared as ODF Plus Model Verified
• 4,75,210 villages have arrangements for Solid Waste Management
• 5,14,102 villages have arrangements for Liquid Waste Management
• Under GOBARdhan, more than 990 community Biogas Plants are functional
• 19,855 trainings have been conducted covering 112876 GPs. 30753 master trainers trained

 

SBM(G) dashboard is a dynamic platform designed to advance villages towards becoming ODF Plus Model with identified verification systems. Developed in collaboration with NIC, updated by States/UTs it empowers data-driven decision-making for a cleaner, healthier India. Click here - https://sbm.gov.in/sbmgdashboard/statesdashboard.aspx

 

• Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) campaign September 2024 was observed from 17th September to 2nd October received participation from over 30 crore people.

• A study published in Nature (2024) revealed that India’s SBM program has contributed significantly to reducing infant and under-five mortality rates across the country – averting 60,000 – 70,000 infant lives annually. The study utilized a quasi-experimental design, providing robust evidence linking increased toilet access under SBM with improved child survival outcomes.

 

ODF PLUS DECLARED VILLAGES AS OF 24th December, 2024
Aspiring	Rising	Model	Verified	Total
1,46,767	12,064	4,02,591	2,32,115	5,61,422

 

 

EXPENDITURE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF SBM (G) - Rs in Crore
YEAR	UTILISED
2014-2015 to 2022-2023	25391.83
2023-2024	9726.01

 

Light House Initiative

The Lighthouse Initiative was launched on 29th July 2022 in collaboration with the with India Sanitation Coalition- FICCI (ISC- FICCI) to develop 209 Villages as Model ODF plus villages spread over in 76 GPs of 54 Blocks OF 45 Districts that would cover all components of ODF Plus and will serve as a learning lab. These would be providing guidance and inspiration to other blocks and villages to enable them to achieve ODF Plus status at speed and scale. During the year, the LHI program, transitioned from its successful Phase 1 into an ambitious Phase 2.  In Phase I the program witnessed the involvement of seven corporates and one development foundation across 15 state SBM-G missions.

In LHI Phase 1, out of 76 GPs, 73 GPs were declared as ODF Plus Model. Building on these successes, LHI Phase 2 was launched to scale up the learnings from Phase 1. Scheduled from July 2024 to March 2025, Phase 2 will expand to 43 blocks across 14 states, involving eight corporates. The initiative focusses on community action for SLWM, innovative communication and outreach strategies, and robust monitoring systems.  LHI Phase 2 is expected to establish sustainable O&M practices for SLWM assets through active community involvement, including women’s self-help groups (SHGs) and village water and sanitation committees (VWSCs).

 

Rural WASH Partners ‘Forum – SBMG and JJM

The Department of drinking water & Sanitation has set up a forum, where development partners along with sector partners can come forward, support, and work collaboratively with the Government of India and State/ UTs for the effective implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen). Twelve leading organizations have been designated as RWPF Thematic Lead Partners leading important thematic areas in WASH sector.

In the year, the partners supported in organizing 8 seminars across States/UTs and facilitating around 65 capacity building sessions and leading 6 assessment studies across national, state and district level. RWPF Partners played a proactive role in facilitating 32 training sessions at DDWS’s SPM Niwas that were attended by participants across India. RWPF partners participated in national consultative discussions sharing their valuable ideas and suggestions on the way forward for rural WASH. 

 

Celebrating Woman Changemakers as Special Guest to India’s 75th Republic Day

On India’s 75th Republic Day, DDWS-SBM-G hosted a two-day event celebrating the invaluable contributions of women change makers in rural sanitation. The first celebration was on January 25th, 2024, at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan which was more than a gathering—it was milestone in recognizing and elevating the role of women in shaping a cleaner, healthier India. The event brought together over 475 women from 27 States/UTs in a vibrant dialogue with Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti, and Hon’ble Minister of State of Jal Shakti. The event was a platform not just for celebration but for meaningful policy discussions as the interactions focused on commemorating the achievements of women change makers, appreciating their relentless efforts in the sanitation sector, and providing an opportunity for insightful exchanges that could influence future policy directions.

 

Exhibition at Bharat Parv

As part of the 2024 Republic Day Celebrations, DDWS-SBMG, participated in the six-day mega event Bharat Parv organized by the Ministry of Tourism in the lawns and Gyan Path in front of Red Fort, Delhi from 26th to 31st January 2024. The DOWS pagoda displayed achievements of SBM Phase I and II and was inaugurated by safai karamcharis, with a view to honoring and appreciating their efforts.

 

Swachhata Green Leaf Rating

DDWS-SBMG in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism rolled out a ‘Swachhata Green Leaf Rating System’(SGLR) for all the hospitality facilities in the country. The SGLR system encourages hospitality owners to adopt better technologies for sanitation to make their facilities SGLR compliant to achieve Swachhata Green Rating from 1 leaf to 5 leaf. The program aligns with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's emphasis on providing world-class hygiene and sanitation facilities for tourist, marking a crucial step towards cleaner and more sustainable tourism practices. Bison Resorts, Madhai, in the heart of Narmadapuram, Madhya Pradesh was the first one to take a lead in obtaining the first Five Swachhata Green Leaf Rating Certificate of Recognition. SGLR nudges both tourists and businesses to adopt practices harmonious with nature, the SGLR program aims to develop an economically viable, responsible, and resilient tourism industry. As of today, 1682 hospitality facilities have been given the SGLR rating.

National Conference on Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission (G):

 

A National Conference on SBM-G and JJM was organized during 16-17, February 2024, at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. It brought together a diverse array of stakeholders from States/UTs and was marked by the distinguished presence of Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister Jal Shakti, Uttar Pradesh, Hon’ble MP, Gorakhpur along with other eminent personalities including Secretary – Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, GOI, and Secretary – DDWS among others. The event covered critical aspects of Operation & Maintenance, Innovation, Collaboration and Sustainability. The conference provided a unique platform for cross-learning through detailed presentations on identified thematic areas, demonstrating the best practices implemented across the country.

The conference saw the release of five books –

1. Jal Jeevan Mission Compendium of Behavioural Best Practices
2. Behavior Change Communication Strategy
3. Swachhata Chronicles: Transformative Tales from India- Vol. II
4. ‘Swachhata Green Leaf Rating (SGLR)’ System
5. Compendium on Liquid Waste Management (LWM) Technologies

 

The Union Minister for Jal Shakti also launched 'Citizen Corner' on the dynamic dashboard of Jal Jeevan Mission. 'Citizen Corner' is a one-stop solution with an easy interface with real-time details on water quality of a village and all other water supply information at the click of a button and puts the ability to manage water quality and supply directly into the hands of the citizens.

Launch of Citizen Corner

https://ejalshakti.gov.in/jjm/citizen_corner/villageinformation.aspx

 

Swachh Gaon, Shudh Jal- Behtar Kal Campaign

DDWS joined forces with National STOP Diarrhoea Campaign and launched 2-month awareness campaign, ‘Swachh Gaon, Shudh Jal - Behtar Kal’ from 1st July 2024, to promote the use of safe water and sanitation practices at the village and panchayat level. The primary objective of the campaign was to contribute to the National STOP Diarrhoea Campaign’s goal of reducing childhood mortality due to diarrhoea and improving overall public health in rural India by also advocating for sustaining and achieving the Open Defecation Free Plus Model status in all villages in India towards a Sampoorna Swasth & Swachh Bharat.

 

India Water Week 2024 and International WASH Conference

DDWS organized the International WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) Conference on the sidelines of the 8th India Water Week held between 17th-19th September 2024, in New Delhi. The three-day gathering, centered on the theme ‘Sustaining Rural Water Supply’, and offered a platform for knowledge exchange, showcasing innovations, and sharing best practices aimed at addressing global WASH challenges, with a special focus on achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6).

An International WASH Conference was organized as a part of the IWW which featured over 40 sessions (offline and online), 143 offline paper presentations, 43 online paper presentations, and 5 panel discussions, exploring a wide range of topics such as water quality, greywater management, community engagement, Information, Education and Behaviour Change Communication (IEC/BCC) initiatives, and climate change adaptation, among others. National Safe Water Dialogue and Digital Water Infrastructure were some important sessions. 

 

Swachhata Hi Seva 2024: (17 September- October 2)

DDWS -SBMG celebrated Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2024 campaign that was rolled out from September 17 to October 2, culminating on Swachh Bharat Diwas. The celebrations were initiated with a curtain raiser event on 13th September. 2024 marked a significant milestone as SBM celebrates its tenth anniversary and the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign reaches its 7th year. The theme for SHS 2024, “Swabhav Swachhata, Sanskar Swachhata”, was designed to reignite the spirit of collective action and citizen participation in cleanliness efforts across India, underpinned by three key pillars emphasizing a ‘whole of society’ approach workers.

As a part of SHS, Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri C.R. Patil visited Chhattisgarh and Odisha with an objective to observe the progress and implementation of various sanitation and water conservation initiatives under the department. Union Minister for Jal Shakti addressed the media on the eve of the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) on 1st October, 2024 through a curtain raiser event.

SHS 2024 witnessed participation from the Honorable President and Vice President along with 42 Union Ministers, 10 Governors,20 Chief Ministers, over 149 MP’s, 18 State Ministers and over 933 MLA/MLCs. More than 30.68 lakhs events were planned as of 1st October with participation from over 30 crore people. In addition, there were over 11K cyclothons, 16K Swachh Food Streets, over 79K Swachh Bharat Cultural Fests and over 71 lakh trees planted under Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam.

 

Swachh Bharat Diwas (2nd October)

To mark the completion of 10 years of SBM, Hon’ble Prime Minister participated in the Swachh Bharat Diwas (SBD) 2024 held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. During the programme, the Hon’ble Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for several projects related to sanitation and cleanliness and set up of Compressed Biogas (CBG) Plant projects under GOBARdhan Scheme.

 

The event showcased India’s decade-long sanitation achievements and witnessed participation from local government bodies, women’s groups, youth organizations, and community leaders. SHS witnessed celebrity engagement with over 170 celebrities/influencers publishing content online.

 

The hashtags #10YearsOfSwachhBharat, #SBD2024, and #SHS2024 was trending on the X platform in India at 9:15 AM and remained in the trending list for more than 5 hours. During the campaign period, over 2000 articles were published in media across state and national channels.

National Visioning Workshop for WASH

DDWS hosted a visioning workshop on October 28th that brought together experts and leaders to assess achievements and set the course for sustainable community engagement in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH). The workshop focused on assessing progress while refining strategies for the future, with a keen emphasis on effective community engagement and it witnessed participation from key dignitaries and senior officials from DDWS and senior representatives from States/UTs.

 

Hamara Shauchalay: Hamara Samman

DDWS-SBMG launched the nationwide campaign “Hamara Shauchalay: Hamara Samman” (HSHS) (हमारा शौचालय: हमारा सम्मान). November 19, World Toilet Day that culminated on Human Rights Day, December 10, 2024, emphasizing the critical link between sanitation, human rights, and dignity. The campaign reaffirms India’s commitment to maintaining its Open Defecation Free (ODF) status while promoting behavioral change for cleaner, healthier communities. The HSHS campaign served as a timely call to action to sustain and build on the efforts being made in the SBM program. With a strong focus on vulnerable groups, particularly women and girls, this initiative underlines that toilets are more than infrastructure, they are foundational to dignity, equality, and public health aligned with the campaign tagline “शौचालय संवारें, जीवन निखारें”. During the 3-week program, the HSHS campaign mobilized over 38 lakh participants through more than 50,500 events nationwide. The campaign achieved significant milestones, including the assessment and functional improvement of over 1.54 lakh Community Sanitary Complexes (CSCs), covering more than 70 per cent of existing facilities, sanctioning of over 3.35 lakh IHHS sanctions and conducting of over 600 DWSM meetings.

 

SPM Niwas – Centre for Excellence for WASH (SBM and JJM)

DDWS’s SPM NIWAS, Kolkatta is committed towards becoming a prominent Center of Excellence under SBMG and JJM. Focus has been to position SPM NIWAS as a leading knowledge hub for students, professionals, and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) practitioners and drive scalable, impactful solutions for sanitation and water management. During the year, approximately 40 trainings have been conducted on SBMG verticals that have received participation for national, state and district teams.

Under JJM, 35 trainings have been conducted over the course of 92 days, reaching over 1600 participants.

Minister Reviews: During the year, there have been SBMG program reviews of various states by the Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti North.

These states included all Northeastern States, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.

These reviews reaffirm the government’s commitment to advancing rural sanitation and empowering communities toward a Swachh and Swasth Bharat.

 

Swachhata Samachar

The monthly SBM-G newsletter "Swachhata Samachar" was launched in August 2022. In 2024, 12 newsletters were published, and these publications are a comprehensive repository, offering insights into the various initiatives, projects, and achievements at both state and national levels. They include details of state and district best practices, innovations, policy updates and events. In October, 2 volumes were developed.