India is quietly nearing its goal of having 77% of villages meet the ODF Plus Model, driven by grassroots innovations rather than just government schemes.
An ODF Plus village sustains open defecation-free status, manages solid and liquid waste, maintains visual cleanliness, and actively promotes hygiene awareness.
Official figures show over 5.10 lakh villages manage solid waste, 5.26 lakh handle liquid waste, and more than 1,200 biogas plants operate nationwide. Over 6.38 lakh vehicles assist waste collection.
Yet, it’s the local initiatives shaping rural waste management that stand out. In Haryana’s Karnal district, Suman Dangi and her self-help group offer hot meals in exchange for 500 grams of clean recyclable plastic. Since launching with a ₹50,000 loan, they have collected 1,500 kg of plastic and served 3,000 meals.
In Uttar Pradesh’s Sonbhadra district, women swap 2 kg of plastic for sanitary pads, a program started by village head Archana Tripathi to tackle plastic pollution and menstrual hygiene taboos simultaneously.
Nearby, Parmeshwar Pal in Ghorawal block collects plastic waste daily via e-rickshaw, urging locals to reduce single-use plastics.
Uttarakhand’s Sirasu village funds its cleanliness by charging tourists for photoshoots and renting equipment, generating ₹50 lakh since 2018.
Nagaland’s Ghokito village turns kitchen scraps into pig feed and involves children in plastic collection, integrating waste management into community life.
These stories show rural India’s shift to innovative, locally-tailored sanitation efforts that complement government infrastructure.
As India nears its sanitation milestones, sustaining community-driven, economically sustainable models remains the key challenge.
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