Insta
Swachh Bharat Success: UN Report Reveals Dramatic Decrease In Open Defecation, Better Access To Drinking Water In India
Swarajya Staff
Jun 19, 2019, 01:14 PM | Updated 01:14 PM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
According to a report released by United Nations (UN) organisations yesterday (18 June), there has been a massive reduction in open defecation among households in India, with the country accounting for nearly two-thirds of some 650 million people who have given up the practice in the 2000-2017 time frame, reports The Hindu.
Moreover, the Joint Monitoring Programme report by the UNICEF and WHO percentage of people who can access a protected drinking water source which is less than 30 minutes from them has also risen substantially from 79 per cent to 93 per cent in the said time period.
One area where progress has been lacking however, is piped water, with the percentage household having access to such a facility remaining at around 44 per cent since 2000. Interestingly, the BJP-led NDA government in its second term has decided to majorly focus on the said issue of piped water, under its scheme ‘Nal Se Jal’.
Efforts against open defecation had also been bolstered from 2014 onwards under the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’, with the aim to declare the whole country open defecation free by 2 October 2019.
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Introducing ElectionsHQ + 50 Ground Reports Project
The 2024 elections might seem easy to guess, but there are some important questions that shouldn't be missed.
Do freebies still sway voters? Do people prioritise infrastructure when voting? How will Punjab vote?
The answers to these questions provide great insights into where we, as a country, are headed in the years to come.
Swarajya is starting a project with an aim to do 50 solid ground stories and a smart commentary service on WhatsApp, a one-of-a-kind. We'd love your support during this election season.
Click below to contribute.