The government recently released figures to show how rural sanitation coverage in the country has risen by leaps and bounds in the last decade, going from 31% in 2011 to almost 100% in 2021.
Figures show that rural sanitation — percentage of population with toilets within/attached to their houses — was just 1% in 1981.
According to government data, over 10 crore household toilets have been constructed under the rural Swachh Bharat Mission, launched in 2014.
It added that over 6 lakh villages in the country have been declared open-defecation free.
Last year, the ministry of Jal Shakti released a statement saying that rural sanitation coverage of almost 100% has been achieved due to availability of toilet facilities to all villagers and their motivation to use toilets.
“As a result of the Swachh Bharat Mission, 55 crore people changed their behaviour and started using toilets. With the attainment of Swachh Bharat, there has been a significant reduction in water and sanitation related diseases,” the ministry had said.