NEW DELHI: The Centre on Wednesday approved the second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural), focussing on sustainability of ‘Open Defecation Free’ (ODF) programme and management of solid and liquid waste. The second phase, billed as ODF Plus, will be implemented between 2020-21 and 2024-25 with a total outlay of over Rs 1.4 lakh crore.

The ODF Plus programme, approved by the Cabinet, will converge with MGNREGA, especially for grey (non-toilet) water management, and will complement the newly launched Jal Jeevan Mission. It will work towards ensuring that no one is left behind and everyone uses a toilet.

“This (second phase) will be a novel model of convergence between different verticals of financing. Of this Rs 52,497 crore will be allocated from the budget of department of drinking water and sanitation while remaining amount will be dovetailed from the funds being released under 15th Finance Commission , MGNREGS and revenue generation models particularly for solid and liquid waste management,” said an official statement.

The mission was launched on October 2, 2014, when the sanitation coverage in the country was reported at 38.7%. More than 10 crore individual toilets have been constructed since the launch of the mission and as a result, rural areas in all states have declared themselves ODF as on October 2, 2019.

Under the ODF Plus programme, provision for incentive of Rs 12,000 for construction of individual household toilet (IHHL) to the newly emerging eligible households as per the existing norms will continue. Financial assistance to the ‘Gram Panchayats’ for construction of community managed sanitary complex (CMSC) at village level has, however, been increased from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh per CMSC.

“The programme will be implemented by the States/UTs as per the operational guidelines which will be issued to the states shortly,” said the statement.

The fund sharing pattern between Centre and states will be 90:10 for north-eastern states and Himalayan states and UT of J&K; 60:40 for other States; and 100:0 for other UTs.

The solid and liquid waste management (SLWM) component of ODF Plus will be monitored on the basis of output-outcome indicators for four key areas: plastic waste management, biodegradable solid waste management (including animal waste management), grey water management and fecal sludge management .

