Open Defecation Metre ticks down from 55 Cr to 25 Cr during 2014-2017

New Delhi, February 19: The number of people in rural India, who are defecating in open has now come down to 25 crore, this February as against 55 crore in 2014. Eleven States and Union Territories have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) so far, and this number is expected to rise to 15 by end of March 2018.

Speaking about the budgetary allocation to Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), she said that the Budgetary Estimate of FY 2018-19 has increased over last year. In addition, she said, that with the expected addition of an extra-budgetary allocation of another Rs 15,000 crore to the Mission, the Ministry was confident of achieving the goal set for it.

The Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, also made a presentation at the press conference. In his presentation, the Secretary, Parameswaran Iyer, said that under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), rural sanitation coverage has increased to over twice the coverage at the time of the launch of the Mission, from 39% to 78.5%.

The Secretary also spoke about Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources (GOBAR)-dhan, a “Waste to Wealth” initiative of the Government announced during the Finance Minister’s budget address. Under this initiative, 700 districts of the country will be provided access to bio-gas resources to recycle animal waste and convert it into wealth and energy.