69 lakh loos built in villages in 10 months: Govt

NEW DELHI: Construction of individual household latrines (IHHLs) has improved substantially in rural areas since the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), government data shows. While 1.04 crore IIHLs were constructed between April 2012 and October 2014 under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyaan (NBA), the earlier avatar of SBM, about 69 lakh toilets were built in the past 10 months.
According to data compiled by the drinking water and sanitation ministry, 45.6 lakh IIHLs were constructed during 2012-13 and another 49.7 lakh were built during 2013-14. But the maximum increase of over eight lakh units was registered during the last financial year. In the first three-and-a-half month of this fiscal about 17.3 lakh toilets have been built in rural areas.
"Besides increasing the Central assistance, there has been greater awareness among people against open defecation. Panchayats are taking huge interest to implement the scheme. There are also examples of how locals are taking the next step own their own to improve total sanitation in their villages. Some villages are building toilets that can used by outsiders when they come as a part of marriage party or to visit fair," said an official of drinking water and sanitation ministry.
Sources in both the sanitation and urban development ministries said that as of now they are tracking and monitoring the household latrine construction where government assistance is being provided. "We cannot make it mandatory for corporates and NGOs which are also undertaking construction of community, public or individual latrines since it's voluntary for them to share such information. However, we are going to create an online platform where they can share their plans and progress," a government official said.
According to NSSO data of 2012, over 59% household in rural areas defecate in open. The Modi government has set the target to end open defecation by October 2019.