Gujarat leads in implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission

Odisha leads in community toilet building

People sitting on commode-seats at the Toilet Cafe inside Environmental Sanitation Institute in Ahmedabad. Formerly known as Safai Vidyalaya, the Gandhian institute promotes clean sanitation habits and works towards ending manual scavenging.

Gujarat tops the list of states for the implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission, while Odisha has done the best as far as construction of community toilets is concerned, shows an assessment carried out by the Union Urban Development Ministry for the years 2014­15.

According to the Ministry of the 2,70,069 household toilets constructed during the last financial year under the Mission, Gujarat alone accounted for 60 per cent of them having built 1,65,376 household toilets. Madhya Pradesh has constructed 99,151 household toilets followed by Karnataka with 4,697.

Odisha was ahead of the others in the construction of community toilet seats, having constructed 740 seats during 2014­15. Andaman and Nicobar Islands reported construction of 200 and Karnataka has built 100 community toilet seats. A total of 1,222 community toilet seats have been built during 2014­15.

The third component of the Misison, Solid Waste Management also has Gujarat taking the lead by reporting 100 per cent collection and transportation of municipal solid waste in 120 of the 195 towns in the state. Odisha has done well here as well, with 100 per cent solid waste management of 107 towns and Karnataka in 40 towns. “In all, 329 of the 4,041 statutory towns have reported 100 per cent collection and transportation of municipal solid waste,” the Ministry said.

Launched on October 2, 2014, the Mission has an objective of ensuring cleanliness in all the 4,041 statutory cities and towns of the country by October 2, 2019 which marks the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

The five year Mission will be implemented at a total cost of Rs. 62,009 crore with a targeted construction of 1.04 crore household toilets, 2.51 lakh community toilet seats and 2.55 lakh public toilet seats besides assisting 37 crore urban people in solid waste management.

“During 2014­15, a total of about Rs.900 crore has been sanctioned by the Ministry of Urban Development and an amount of about Rs.700 crore has been released to States and UTs based on proposals received under Swachh Bharat Mission. Implementation of the Mission is expected to pick up momentum from the current financial year onwards,” said an official of the Ministry.