(a) whether the Government has any plan to implement next phase of Swachh
Bharat Abhiyan and if so, the details thereof;
(b)whether the Government is taking any steps towards recycling and managing
waste, including single-use plastics and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is true that building toilets hasn’t eliminated open defecation
entirely; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)
(a) Yes sir. The Government is working towards shifting the focus of Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) [SBM(G)] from Open Defecation Free (ODF) to ODF-plus which includes sustainability of ODF status and arrangements for Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) in the villages.
(b) SLWM is one of the main components of SBM(G), which inter-alia includes management of plastic wastes in the rural areas on the country. The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation is also supporting the efforts of mitigating the use of Single Use Plastic through Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities under SBM(G). The main theme of Swachhta-Hi-Seva 2019 campaign run from 11th September, 2019 to 27th October, 2019 was Plastic Waste Awareness and Management. The campaign also involved a nationwide Shramdaan on 2nd October, 2019 for collection and segregation of plastic waste.
(c) & (d) As per the data reported by the States on the Online Integrated Management Information System of SBM(G), all the villages/districts/States of the country have declared themselves as Open Defecation Free (ODF). As per National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey (NARSS) 2018-19 conducted in December, 2018, 93.1% rural households had access to toilets.
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