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UP intensifies waste management efforts after achieving open defecation-free village status
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Aaj Tak
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UP intensifies waste management efforts after achieving open defecation-free village status

The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government's initiative aims to improve sanitation conditions in rural areas, shifting from an initial focus on eliminating open defecation to emphasizing solid and liquid waste management.

The 'Swachh Bharat Mission - Gramin' (SBM-G) program is an Indian Government project implemented with the support of state bodies to enhance cleanliness and hygiene in rural regions. This mission launched on October 2, 2014, and its primary objective in the initial phase was to eradicate open defecation through toilet construction, behavioral change, and community involvement.

In the second phase of SBM-G, attention has been directed not only towards maintaining the status of Open Defecation Free (ODF) villages but also towards implementing solid and liquid waste management systems in these villages. The program's goal is to ensure access to sanitary facilities for all and develop a sustainable sanitation system in rural areas.

Implementation of SBM-G in Uttar Pradesh

In Uttar Pradesh, the implementation of SBM-G is carried out through the system of rural hygiene and Panchayati Raj institutions, where municipal councils play a key role in maintaining sanitary facilities and safe waste handling.

According to a UP government publication for 2025, the state was declared completely Open Defecation Free (ODF) under SBM-G. The same report indicates that 95,767 villages achieved ODF status through the introduction of solid and liquid waste management systems. Furthermore, in the first phase of the mission in UP, 26.8 million individual household toilets were constructed, as well as public toilets in villages.

Focusing on ODF Plus

With the start of the second phase, the program went beyond merely ensuring the availability of toilets. Now, in addition to maintaining ODF status, attention is being paid to solid waste management, greywater management, and overall sanitation in villages.

According to the official SBM-G bulletin published in January 2025, as of the December 2024 review, 98% of UP villages had ODF Plus status, and over one hundred thousand staff members were trained to implement SBM-G in the state. Thus, the efforts under SBM-G are focused not only on providing sanitary facilities but also on preserving hygienic behavior, developing scientific methods for managing solid and liquid waste in villages, and creating conditions for a clean rural environment.

Overall, SBM-G in Uttar Pradesh is working to elevate rural hygiene beyond basic toilet amenities, strengthening the maintenance of open defecation-free behavior and developing solid and liquid waste management at the village level.

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Surendra Singh Chaudhary conducted a garbage cleanup campaign in Gurugram, removing 2435 kg of waste
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www.aajtak.in

Surendra Singh Chaudhary conducted a garbage cleanup campaign in Gurugram, removing 2435 kg of waste

Surendra Singh Chaudhary, known on social media as 'Bittu Tabahi,' is attracting public attention due to his environmental initiatives. After conducting cleanup campaigns along the Ajnar River in Madhya Pradesh and the Yamuna River in Delhi, he began his activities in Gurugram. His team in Gurugram collected 2435 kilograms of trash. The three-day campaign concluded in Noida.

'Bittu Tabahi' started his three-day campaign in Delhi. On September 20, he spent about four and a half hours cleaning along the Yamuna River, during which, according to him, 585 kilograms of trash were removed. Then, on September 21, his team arrived in Kherki Daula, Gurugram.

During the cleanup in Kherki Daula, Gurugram, a large amount of trash, including plastic, was found on the street and in surrounding areas. Bittu noted that plastic waste is dangerous for animals because cows sometimes eat it. Following this, Bittu and his team began cleaning, and videos show team members continuously collecting trash. After the event, the area looked significantly cleaner than before.

According to Bittu, a total of 2435 kilograms of trash was removed during this campaign in Gurugram. He also thanked everyone who participated in the cleanup.

Previously, on September 20, 'Bittu Tabahi' conducted a cleanup on the banks of the Yamuna in Delhi. This event lasted about four and a half hours, and 585 kilograms of trash were reported as removed. The cleanup involved plastic, flower garlands, and other types of waste. After Delhi, the campaign continued in Gurugram, and then in Noida. For the final leg in Noida, Yuva Shakti Ghat in Sector 94 was chosen. Bittu also called on people to join this cleanup event.

Observing Bittu's enthusiasm, some users left comments such as: 'Bittu, you are truly a force of nature' or 'Bittu Bhai, you have worked a miracle.'

Prior to this, 'Bittu Tabahi' gained fame through his work cleaning the Ajnar River in Madhya Pradesh. Videos of his cleanup campaigns went viral on social media, and his efforts attracted international attention. After cleaning the Ajnar River, he also conducted a cleanup campaign in the Turkhli forest near Bangalore. Reports indicated that his work impressed Bowen Slate, founder and CEO of 'The Ocean Cleanup,' who offered him a job.

Now, the cleanup campaign in Delhi-NCR is attracting public attention on social media. The 'Bittu Tabahi' team has been engaged in removing trash in various locations, from the Yamuna in Delhi to Kherki Daula in Gurugram.

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