Government to launch nation-wide monitoring of toilet use next year

Oficials will head out with mobile phones, tablets, iPads to report on whether toilets are being used in rural India, with results uploaded onto a website in real time

The monitoring system will be unveiled to give a big push to Swachh Bharat Mission, which aims at attaining a 100 percent open defecation free India by 2019, a ministry statement said.

People across the country will be mobilized to check and verify the use of toilets in the rural areas through mobile phones, tablets or I-pads and upload the same in case of any discrepancy on the ministry's website in tune with online Citizen Monitoring.

Earlier, the monitoring was done only about the construction of toilets, but now the actual use of toilets will be ascertained on a sustained basis.

Moreover, in order to implement the Swachh Bharat Mission in a mission mode, the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation is being strengthened.

Around two dozen additional staff including two Joint Secretaries, four Directors and their subordinate staff will soon be appointed for effective implementation and monitoring of Swachh Bharat goals.

An expert committee will also be set up to examine the innovative technologies for toilets and solid and liquid waste management.

A national telephonic helpline will also be installed for rural water supply and sanitation.