The Directorate of Rural Sanitation, Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, has achieved a momentous milestone in the region by declaring all villages as Open Defecation Free Plus (ODF Plus) following the abrogation of Article 370. This achievement comes as a result of effective implementation of centrally sponsored schemes, with a particular focus on enhanced sanitation and hygiene facilities for rural communities.
Earlier this year, under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) 2.0, all 6,650 villages spanning across 20 districts and 285 blocks in Jammu and Kashmir were declared ODF Plus. This signifies a remarkable improvement in sanitation and hygiene conditions throughout the region.
According to RDD officials, the 100% ODF Plus milestone is significant as it goes beyond mere construction and usage of toilets. Instead, it emphasizes cleanliness by effectively managing both grey water and solid waste in each village.
The journey towards ODF Plus involved three stages: ODF Plus Aspiring, ODF Plus Rising, and ODF Plus Model. A village is categorized as ODF Aspiring when mechanisms are in place to manage either solid or liquid waste, in addition to sustaining ODF status. ODF Rising is achieved when the village establishes systems to handle both solid and liquid waste. Finally, a village reaches the ODF Plus Model stage when it becomes visually clean with minimal litter and stagnant water, along with successful solid and liquid waste management and adequate Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities.
Charandeep Singh, Director of Rural Sanitation, highlighted the efforts made to ensure safe sanitation in rural areas, including the management of solid waste, grey water, and faecal sludge. Door-to-door waste collection, once an alien concept in rural regions, has now become prevalent in almost all Panchayats of Jammu and Kashmir. Waste is collected from households and taken to segregation sheds, where it is categorized for proper disposal, including recycling through various mechanisms.
Additionally, the construction of Waste Collection and Segregation Sheds, Community Soak Pits, Community Compost Pits, Community Sanitary Complexes, Faecal Sludge Management Plants, and Plastic Waste Management Units has significantly contributed to the successful implementation of the ODF Plus initiative.
While celebrating this momentous achievement, RDD officials acknowledged the challenging goal of making all villages ODF Model, with sustained cleanliness and waste management. They emphasized the need for continued efforts and community involvement to ensure the sustainability of these achievements.
Furthermore, the department is actively engaging in Information, Education, and Communication activities to motivate people to participate in this Jan Andolan (People’s Movement) and contribute to the realization of Sampoorna Swachta (Total Cleanliness) in every village of Jammu and Kashmir.
Charandeep Singh expressed confidence in declaring all villages as model villages soon, with strong support from stakeholders, including Block Development Councils, District Development Councils, Sarpanches, Panches, NGOs, and religious organizations.
He also highlighted the importance of SDG-6 (Sustainable Development Goal 6) focusing on clean water and sanitation for all, indicating the department’s commitment to aligning its efforts with global sustainability targets.
