The Ministry of Jal Shakti has released updated figures on the Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin Phase II, showing significant progress in moving rural sanitation beyond basic toilet access to comprehensive waste management and behavioural change across villages. The shift reflects a maturation of India’s sanitation landscape from infrastructure provision to sustainable community practices.
Current Status and Scale
Rural India achieved 100 percent sanitation coverage by 2019, with over 10.28 crore toilets constructed between 2014 and 2019 across 36 states and union territories. The country was declared Open Defecation Free in 2019. Phase II now focuses on sustaining this progress through waste management and hygiene practices.
As of 17 September 2026, India has attained 5.69 lakh villages classified as ODF Plus, meaning they sustain open defecation free status while managing solid and liquid waste effectively. Of these, 5.25 lakh villages have achieved ODF Plus Model status, which includes visual cleanliness and appropriate messaging. Additionally, 5.38 lakh villages have established solid waste management systems and 5.65 lakh villages have established liquid waste management systems.
The GOBARdhan initiative, which converts cattle dung and agricultural waste into biogas and organic manure, now operates 1,314 biogas plants across 582 districts. At household level, 12.22 crore individual toilets and 98,273 biogas plants have been constructed.
Key Implementation Features
- Women Self-Help Groups designated as Swachhagrahis conduct door-to-door awareness and community mobilization
- Schools serve as institutions for teaching children sanitation and hygiene practices that influence household behaviour
- Gram Panchayats lead village-level planning, implementation and community mobilisation
- Village Water and Sanitation Committees support planning and supervision
- Swachhata Hi Seva 2025 engaged over 18.06 crore citizens in cleanliness activities
What this means for you
Village residents now have access to coordinated waste management systems and sanitation facilities designed locally. If you live in a rural area, your gram panchayat is responsible for planning village-wide sanitation, meaning decisions about waste collection and wastewater treatment increasingly involve community input. Women in your village may find livelihood opportunities through waste management roles or sanitation-related services. Young people and students are being positioned as agents of cleanliness behaviour in their families and communities.