In the Parliament on July 19, 2018
Here’s a round-up of today’s debates and reports on environmental and developmental issues
ODF Plus: Step up or lose
India cannot sustain its next round of sanitation campaign without managing its faecal waste
Union Budget 2019-20: Focus shifts to SBM phase 2, women’s role in it
The mission will now aim to turn waste into energy and better solid waste management in rural areas
Budget 2018: Swachh Bharat Mission funds cut down
For the first time in the last four years, the allocation for the sanitation programme was reduced
Bio-toilets in trains not effective; they are no better than septic tanks: IIT Madras
About 93,537 bio-digesters have been installed in trains so far at a cost of Rs 1,305 crore
Behaviour change at many levels needed to make India open defecation-free
National Consultation on Rural Sanitation calls for triggering mindset change, but lack of credible data on health and sanitation is a challenge
In the Parliament on March 11, 2016
Building toilets won’t make India open defecation free: World Bank study
The research analysed attitudes of people in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur, all of whom had toilets in their houses. Almost half were unwilling …
This is what Africa can learn from India's sanitation story
Despite the limitations of the Indian model of sanitation, Africa can draw inspiration from its many positive aspects
The plastic trail of the Ganga from mountain to sea
Despite campaigns for cleanliness, India has ignored the massive proliferation of plastics along rivers like the Ganga, in towns and villages, …
Swachh Bharat is now about toilets built, not change in attitude: Experts
At a book launch in New Delhi, sanitation experts say the scheme has defeated the purpose of community-led total sanitation approach
Gram panchayats get more funds for Swachh Bharat activities
Mandatory for lowest tier elected bodies to use half the funds allocated under 15th Finance Commission
Weak municipalities, governance failure stalling progress of Swachh Bharat: experts
The panelists suggested that the Centre should find ways to reform governance and change attitudes
Centre asks mining companies to contribute to Swachh Bharat Mission projects
With CSR investments likely to boost funding for SBM projects, the DMF must now be used only to address other pressing issues in mining-affected areas
Coercive measures under Swachh Bharat Mission impinging on people’s freedom
Due to strict deadline of the SBM, the officials are now trying to coerce communities to stop open defecation and passing stringent laws
Sanitation workers: They clean our poop and face a lot of dangers; here is how
Is Swachh Bharat being achieved at the cost of the health and safety of sanitation workers? Or by funding for infrastructure?
Minister claims Ganga will be 70-80% cleaner by March 2019, but is it realistic?
So far, the government has focussed largely on curbing flow of untreated sewage into the river, but not on managing faecal sludge
Open defecation in an ODF district in Rajasthan
Here's a travelogue to four tribal villages in Rajasthan's Sirohi district, which has been declared open-defecation free; but there are …
What’s holding back India’s complete ODF status?
A few laggard states needing appropriate technology and behavioural intervention are the final hurdle in order to achieve 100% household coverage …
Govt launches new framework to sustain India’s ‘100% ODF status’
The Centre will proclaim India to be 100% ODF on October 2 and the new framework envisages its strategy to maintain that status
Swachh Bharat Mission yet to create systems that support waste segregation, processing
The Swachh Bharat Mission Urban completes three years on October 2, 2017, but has the mission gone beyond brooms and sticks? How far country has …
Despite toilets in place, a quarter of rural population stuck to open defecation
New study on changes in open defecation in rural North India says pace of toilet construction increased under Swachh Bharat Mission, but there …
In hurry to build 40 toilets a minute, did govt forget about safe sanitation?
CAG reports of Gujarat and Uttarakhand, which are ODF status holders, say many toilets only exist on paper and several are defunct
Swachh Bharat Mission: Nilgiris sets example of community effort
More than 100,000 tribals, dalits and women raised a loan of Rs 20 crore to build toilets, after the incentive of Rs 12,000 per household was …
Swachh Bharat Mission: Persuasion pays off in Uttar Pradesh
Benda village sets an example by achieving ODF status before the state despite facing a severe drought