Varanasi: Uttar Pradesh has achieved 100 percent ODF Plus status of all 95,767 villages in the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase II. Varanasi has ranked 1st in the country in Achiever Category in ODF (Open Defecation free) plus with all Gram Panchayats. It is a testament to the district's dedication to sanitation and waste management.
“This achievement is the result of concerted efforts to implement solid and liquid waste management systems across the district's 1246 villages”, says Himanshu Nagpal, CDO, Varanasi.
To achieve ODF Plus status, villages had arrangements for both solid waste management and liquid waste management. This includes infrastructure like Resource Recovery Centers, Soak Pits, Garbage Collection Vehicles, and Vermi Compost Pits.
“The villages are ranked as Aspiring, Rising, and Model, based on their progress in managing waste. Impressively, 1201 villages have achieved Model status, demonstrating their ability to effectively manage solid and liquid waste”, Nagpal added.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachha Bharat initiative, the district has also implemented innovative solutions, such as QR-coded garbage collection vehicles, which enable villagers to track waste collection. A minimal monthly charge of ₹30 is collected from villagers, generating over ₹30 lakhs through door-to-door collection.
This initiative has also created employment opportunities for over 1000 females, who are involved in door-to-door collection and waste segregation. Varanasi's success serves as a model for other districts in Uttar Pradesh, demonstrating the effectiveness of a well-planned and executed waste management strategy.
