Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Finance

Economic Survey Takes Note of Positive Health and Economic Impact in ODF Areas

Sanitation Coverage in Rural India Increases Substantially from 39% in 2014 to 76% in January, 2018

 The Economic Survey 2017-18 takes note of the basic fact that quality of hygiene and sanitation has significant impact on improving the health outcomes. With the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) on 2nd October, 2014, the sanitation coverage in rural India has increased substantially from 39 per cent in 2014 to 76 percent in January, 2018. The Economic Survey 2017- 18 was tabled in Parliament today by the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley.

The number of persons defecating in open in rural areas, which were 55 crore in October, 2014 declined to 25 crore in January, 2018. So far,  296 districts and  307,349 villages all over India have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF). Eight states and two Union Territories. i.e., Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Daman & Diu and Chandigarh have been declared as ODF completely. The surveys conducted by  the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) and Quality Council of India (QCI) on usage of toilets by the individuals who have access to toilets reported more than 90 per cent of individuals using toilets in 2016 and 2017.

The Survey satisfactorily notes that there has been substantial reduction in the number of persons defecating in open in rural areas which has had positive health and economic impact in ODF areas. In a report, ‘The Financial and Economic Impact of SBM in India’, UNICEF estimated that a household in an ODF village in rural India saves ₹ 50,000/- every year. 

 

Sanitation coverage in rural India rose to 76% and ODF areas show positive health and household economic benefits. The Economic Survey 2017-18 records that rural sanitation coverage rose from 39% to 76% following the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), reducing rural open defecation from 550 million to 250 million; 296 districts and 307,349 villages are declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) and surveys report over 90% toilet usage among those with access. The Survey links these sanitation gains to positive health outcomes and household-level economic benefits, citing UNICEF's estimate that an ODF household may save about Rs. 50,000 annually from avoided medical costs, time savings, property value increases, and the value of saved lives.