Experts question government's claim of country becoming ODF-free

Experts on Wednesday questioned the government's claim of the country becoming open defecation free (ODF), saying the data used for measuring the success of the scheme is "archaic" and people might be slipping back to their old habit.

Dr Sumedh, a public health and sanitation expert, said the data used to measure the scheme's success is based on a survey done in 2012.

"The ODF status declaration was done on the basis of a baseline survey conducted in 2012 by the Panchayats, Rural Housing and Rural Development Department. The data is very archaic," he said.

Sumedh said the construction of toilets does include aspects like providing water and electricity to the toilet blocks, which may also prevent people from using it.

Speaking at the Swachch Bharat Diwas programme in Ahmedabad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said rural India and its villages are now open defecation free.

According to the Housing and Urban Affairs (HUA) Ministry, the country has achieved the dream of an open defection-free India, except in 52 urban local bodies of West Bengal.

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said people might be slipping back to their old habit of open defecation.

Questioning the sustainability of this feat, the CSE said that in the last four years, India has built 100 million toilets in about 0.6 million villages, and another 6.3 million in cities.

"Will the extraordinary success of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) stand the test of time? How will the over 100 million toilets be maintained and kept functional? Will people continue to use them?
An event earlier in the day, Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, "I congratulate everyone on having achieved the dream of an open defection free India (except 52 ULBs of West Bengal)."