PANAJI
Seven years after becoming the country’s first State to be declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) Goa's progress towards achieving the highest standards of rural sanitation under the Swachh Bharat Mission has hit a critical verification bottleneck, with barely half of its declared ODF-Plus Model villages (census villages) clearing the first audit and none completing the second stage of certification.
Data available on the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) dashboard as on June 9 reveals that while 325 census villages across the State have been declared ODF-Plus Model villages, only 152 have successfully passed the first verification process. Interestingly, the number of villages that have cleared the mandatory second verification stands at zero.
The figures raise questions over the gap between declarations made on paper and independently verified achievements on the ground.
Goa, which became the first State in the country to be declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) in 2019, has been projecting itself as a frontrunner in rural sanitation. However, the latest data suggests that sustaining and validating those gains remains a challenge.
Under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase II, an ODF-Plus Model village is required not only to retain its ODF status but also ensure effective solid and liquid waste management systems, maintain high standards of cleanliness, prevent littering and stagnant wastewater, and demonstrate sustainable sanitation practices.
The data reveals that Goa has 373 census villages, of which 371 have attained ODF-Plus status. While 325 villages have been declared ODF-Plus Model, only 152 have cleared the first verification, leaving 173 villages awaiting validation. No village has yet completed the second and final verification required for full certification.
The data also shows that 371 villages have arrangements for solid waste management, while 343 villages have facilities for liquid waste management, indicating that wastewater management continues to lag behind solid waste handling.
At the administrative level, Goa has no certified ODF-Plus district or ODF-Plus Model district. Out of 12 blocks, 10 have achieved ODF-Plus status and five have attained ODF-Plus Model status. Among the State's 191 gram panchayats, 189 are ODF-Plus while 163 have been classified as ODF-Plus Model.
