States now aspire to get ODF plus tag

Here’s a status update on how certain states are trying to promote holistic cleanliness

Groundwater and health of residents at risk due to waste dumping in Aravallis

Villages of Faridabad and Gurgaon are protesting against a landfill site proposed by the Haryana government in the region

Half the public places do not manage waste water and litter

A government survey of 16 states in India finds that 51% and 53% public spaces in hills and plains respectively have unhygienic surroundings

Will centralised waste disposal work for Punjab?

Safe waste disposal is a big challenge for the national sanitation overdrive. Punjab has been experimenting with centralised systems to tackle …

Swachh Bharat is not just about chasing toilets

Instead of being euphoric about fast pace of toilet construction in the country, the government should focus on the factors failing to trigger …

Two steps ahead

After becoming the first large state to achieve total sanitation, Himachal Pradesh is all geared up to manage its waste and ensure cleanliness. …

Kumbh Mela 2019: What’s happening to all the waste?

Estimated amount of fecal matter produced during the Kumbh Mela is 18 times of what the district produces daily; how this waste will be treated …

Focus on community sanitary complexes: Standing Committee to govt

In its latest report on the status of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), the Standing Committee on Rural Development said that community …

First-of-a-kind study on community-led sanitation reveals implementation challenges

The study identified 43 implementation- and community-related factors which reportedly affect CLT

Menstrual cycle is normal; our attitude towards it is not

Girls and women have to fight social norms as well as lack of access to safe adsorbents, bathing space and water to manage their menstrual cycles

13th-century water body in Delhi dying for lack of attention, sustained revival plan

Loss of catchments, dumping of waste, sewage discharge and lack of political will are some of the cited reasons behind the present state of …

Findings of annual rural sanitation survey questionable

The claim of 96.5 per cent rural households having access to toilets with potential usage is somewhat doubtful, especially in a scenario where …

About 23 per cent girls drop out of school on reaching puberty

The report emphasises the need to normalise menstruation by looking at behaviour, infrastructure, politics and perception

Menstrual hygiene in Africa: No pad or no way to dispose it

Women in sub-Saharan Africa still struggle to have a healthy and safe period

Swachh Survekshan Gramin reports 62% toilet coverage, surveys 0.72% villages in India

Toilet construction, rather than usage, seems to be the focus of the survey report

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

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 …

Suggestions on government’s Clean Ganga online platform limited in scope

The Ganga Vichar Manch was launched on January 30 under the National Mission for Clean Ganga

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 …

India and Germany sign agreement for cleaning Ganga

Germany will contribute Rs 22.5 crore to the three-year-long project

Building toilets in rural schools is not enough, they have to be usable too

Around 23 per cent of rural schools have unusable toilets and 11.5 per cent have no separate toilets for girls, finds the 13th ASER report 

Will Dehradun riverfront development project really help the city?

It focuses more on beautification aspects rather than rejuvenating the rivulets that flow through the city

Polluted rivers pose risk to human health in three continents

Water pollution level has increased in Asia, Africa and Latin America, putting aquatic flora and fauna under extinction threat

Gujarat high court orders fencing of water bodies in Thatlej area

In the absence of proper protection laws, the city’s lakes are becoming vulnerable to encroachments and building activity, say activists