Executive Summary:
This document provides a status report on the implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBMG) in Tamil Nadu as of July 31, 2025. It details the progress of IHHL construction, solid and liquid waste management projects, ODF status, and capacity-building initiatives. Tamil Nadu declared itself ODF on October 2, 2019, and SBMG Phase II is being implemented from 2020-21 to 2025-26.
Key Points / Main Content:
Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBMG) Implementation:
SBMG Phase I aimed to change behavior to end open defecation, focusing on IHHL and community sanitary complex construction.
SBMG Phase II (2020-21 to 2025-26) aims to sustain ODF status and improve cleanliness via solid and liquid waste management (SLWM) to achieve ODF Plus status.
10,857 villages in Tamil Nadu have been declared ODF Model Villages.
Individual Household Latrine (IHHL) Construction:
60,29,685 IHHLs have been constructed in Tamil Nadu under SBMG.
2,40,751 IHHLs of these have been constructed in Dharmapuri District.
Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM):
Solid Waste Management (SWM): Includes compost pits for biodegradable waste and a system for segregation and collection of plastic waste.
Liquid Waste Management (LWM): Includes soak pits for greywater and potential treatment systems for black water.
11,579 villages in Tamil Nadu have solid waste management arrangements.
10,961 villages have liquid waste management arrangements.
Open Defecation Free (ODF) Status:
All Gram Panchayats in Tamil Nadu declared themselves ODF on October 2, 2019.
Capacity Building:
Sanitation training programs are conducted for SBMG District Coordinators, Block Coordinators, DPMU Team, Assistant Project Officers, Assistant Engineers, Assistant Executive Engineers, Executive Engineers, and Additional Collector Development/Project Directors.
Regional level trainings are also conducted at RIRDs for village level stakeholders.
Gram Panchayat Presidents receive sanitation training on solid and liquid waste management, the importance of twin pit toilets, convergence with urban STPs, and plastic waste management.
Impact Analysis:
SBMG District Coordinators, Block Coordinators, DPMU Team, Assistant Project Officers, Assistant Engineers, Assistant Executive Engineers, Executive Engineers, and Additional Collector Development/Project Directors:
Impact: Enhanced skills and knowledge in implementing and monitoring SBMG.
Action Required: Participate in sanitation training programs and effectively implement SBMG guidelines.
Village Level Stakeholders:
Impact: Increased awareness and capacity to manage solid and liquid waste.
Action Required: Participate in regional level trainings at RIRDs and implement waste management practices.
Gram Panchayat Presidents:
Impact: Improved understanding of solid and liquid waste management and their role in achieving ODF Plus status.
Action Required: Participate in sanitation training, promote twin pit toilets, and oversee waste management initiatives in their respective Gram Panchayats.
Rural Communities in Tamil Nadu:
Impact: Improved sanitation and hygiene through access to IHHLs and effective waste management systems, leading to healthier living conditions.
Action Required: Adopt and maintain proper sanitation practices, including using IHHLs and participating in waste management initiatives.
Key Entities Referenced
Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBMG): A national mission to improve sanitation and hygiene in rural areas, focusing on eliminating open defecation and managing solid and liquid waste.
Tamil Nadu: A state in southern India where the SBMG program is being implemented and whose progress is being assessed.
Individual Household Latrines (IHHLs): Toilets constructed for individual households under the SBMG program to promote sanitation and eliminate open defecation.
Dharmapuri District: A district in Tamil Nadu that is specifically mentioned in relation to the construction of IHHLs under the SBMG program.
Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM): A key component of SBMG Phase II, focusing on managing solid and liquid waste in rural areas to improve cleanliness and hygiene.
Gram Panchayats: Village-level local governing bodies in Tamil Nadu responsible for implementing SBMG initiatives and achieving ODF status.
Open Defecation Free (ODF): A status achieved when all individuals in a community or area use toilets instead of open defecation.
Jal Shakti: The Indian government ministry responsible for water resources and sanitation, overseeing programs like SBMG.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2024
ANSWERED ON 31.07.2025
STATUS OF SBM-G IN TAMIL NADU
2024. SHRI MANI A:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) the status of implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission–Grameen (SBM-G) in Tamil
Nadu since its inception;
(b) the number of Individual Household Latrines (IHHLs) constructed under SBM-G in Tamil
Nadu especially Dharmapuri district along with the targets set and achieved so far;
(c) the present status of Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) projects implemented
in rural areas of Tamil Nadu under SBM-G and the number of Gram Panchayats where these
have been completed;
(d) whether all rural areas in Tamil Nadu have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) and
if so, the details thereof and if not, the specific reasons for areas pending and the timeframe for
achieving complete ODF status; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government to strengthen community engagement, awareness
generation and capacity building among rural local bodies in Tamil Nadu for effective
implementation of SBM-G?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI V. SOMANNA)
(a) Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase-I was launched with an objective of behavioural
change among the people to end open defecation and focused on construction of Individual
Household Latrines (IHHLs) and community sanitary complexes. All the Gram Panchayats of
Tamil Nadu declared themselves ‘Open Defecation Free’ (ODF) on 2nd October, 2019. SBM-G
Phase-II is being implemented in a mission mode from 2020-21 to 2025-26. The key objective
of SBM-G Phase II is to sustain the ODF status of villages and to improve the levels of
cleanliness in rural areas through solid and liquid waste management activities, making villages
ODF plus. So far, 10,857 Villages in Tamil Nadu have been declared as ODF Model Villages.
Page 1 of 2(b) 60,29,685 IHHLs have been constructed in Tamil Nadu under SBM-G till date including
2,40,751 IHHLs in Dharmapuri District.
(c) Solid Waste Management (SWM) under SBM-G involves providing the villages with an
adequate number of individual and community compost pits for biodegradable waste including
agricultural & cattle waste, and an adequate segregation and collection system for plastic waste.
Liquid Waste Management (LWM) involves providing the villages with individual/community
soak pits for greywater generated from kitchen use and bathing, and storm water. Provision
may also be made for appropriate treatment systems for any black water from the overflow of
septic tanks, as may be the need. As reported on the SBM-G IMIS, 11,579 villages in Tamil
Nadu are having arrangement for solid waste management and 10,961 villages are having
arrangement for liquid waste management. So far, 10,857 Villages in Tamil Nadu have been
declared as ODF Model Villages.
(d) All the Gram Panchayats of Tamil Nadu have declared themselves open defecation free
(ODF) on 2nd October, 2019.
(e) Capacity building of various stakeholders of SBM-G is key to implementing the programme
to sustain the ODF status and ensure effective management of solid and liquid waste to make
villages ODF plus. Sanitation training programmes are conducted for capacity building of SBM
(G) District Coordinators, Block Coordinators, DPMU Team, Assistant Project Officers,
Assistant Engineers, Assistant Executive Engineers, Executive Engineers, and Additional
Collector (Development)/Project Directors. Regional level trainings are also conducted at
RIRDs for the village level stakeholders. The Gram Panchayat Presidents are also imparted
sanitation training on the topics of solid waste and Liquid waste management, importance of
twin pit toilet, convergence with urban STPs for treatment of black waters, Plastic waste
management etc.,
*****
Page 2 of 2