According to the Jalshakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, 75% of India's villages, approximately 4.4 lakh have achieved the 'ODF Plus' Status. This means that they have sustained their Open Defecation status because of implementing some solid or liquid waste management techniques.

It has been regarded as a significant step towards achieving the goals of the second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin by 2024-25.

The Minister added that all villages in 14 states and Union Territories have achieved ODF Plus Status, of which four have been declared 'ODF Plus Model'.

The top performing states and UTs which have 100% ODF Plus villages are Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, etc. Out of which Andaman and Nicobar, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Jammu and Kashmir, and Sikkim have achieved 'ODF Plus Model' status.

Some 55,000 villages in the country are 'ODF Plus Rising'. Overall, 2,31,080 villages so far have arrangements for solid waste management while 3,76,353 have arrangements for handling liquid waste.

The major components of Swach Bharat Mission Gramin Phase II - are sustaining the ODF status and having equipped systems in place to handle various waste, including waste in all possible forms.

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Reference:

• m.economictimes.com
• www.businessstandard.com