Government had launched Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) [SBM(G)] with effect from 2^nd October, 2014 with the main aim to make the rural areas of the country open defecation free (ODF) by 2^nd October, 2019, by providing access to toilets to all the rural households. About 10.9 crore individual household latrines (IHHLs) have been constructed in the country under SBM (G). The State/UT-wise numbers of IHHLs constructed, as reported by the States/UTs on the online integrated management information system (IMIS) of SBM (G) are given at Annexure-1.  All the villages had declared themselves ODF as on 2^nd October, 2019. 

As sanitation is a State subject, SBM (G) is being implemented by the State Governments. Government of India provides technical and financial support to the States and issues guidelines. 

Under SBM (G), the incentive for construction of IHHL was enhanced from Rs.10,000 to Rs.12,000 to provide for water storage facility for hand-washing and cleaning of the toilet.  Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation had undertaken three rounds of National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey (NARSS) from 2017-18 to 2019-20 through an independent verification agency under World Bank support to SBM (G).  One of the key indicators for the survey was availability of water for toilet usage.  As per the results of NARSS 2019-20, 99.6% of the households who had access to toilets, had availability of water, and 95.2% of rural population who had access to a toilet, were using it. Further, Government has launched Jal Jeevan Mission in 2019 with the goal to provide functional household tap connection to every rural household by 2024.

This Information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel in a written  reply in Lok Sabha today.

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