IndiaCSR News Network
AHMEDABAD: A total of 26.23 lakh toilets have been constructed under the Swachch Bharat Mission across the country during 2014-15 and out of this, Gujarat’s share is only 5%.
According to the January 12, 2015 report by the Union ministry of drinking water, the number of toilets built in Gujarat is 1.37 lakh. Karnataka tops the list with 3.65 lakh toilets, followed by West Bengal with 3.21 lakh and Madhya Pradesh with 3.13 lakh toilets. Gujarat has been ranked eighth among states in terms of number of toilets built in 2014-15.
According to officials, the number of toilets built in Gujarat improved in 2014-15 because chief minister Anandiben Patel emphasized on building toilets in rural areas. She had even made it compulsory that those wanting to contest panchayat elections must have toilets.
The CM has even asked industrial houses to construct toilets in rural areas as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity. Of the 1.37 lakh toilets, 1.15 lakh were built for those above the poverty line and 22,321 for those below the poverty line.
Officials said that the number will increase this year as the central government has increased the subsidy amount to Rs 12,000 per toilet.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had observed that the state’s sanitation coverage was only 46%. The CAG had also reported that Gujarat projected “inflated” figures of individual household toilets, based on the release of funds instead of actual construction of toilets.
