Sudhir Singh
Updated on September 25, 2025
Before 2014, many Indian families, especially in rural and poor urban areas, did not have a toilet at home. Open defecation was common, which led to disease, unsafe conditions for women, and loss of dignity. The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) was launched to solve this problem by making sanitation a right for every Indian. Toilets became the centrepiece of this mission.
What Is an SBM Toilet?
An SBM toilet refers to a toilet built under the Swachh Bharat Mission, supported by government funding, local authorities, and citizen participation. The focus is not only on construction but also on use, maintenance, and long-term cleanliness.
Types of Toilets Provided
SBM includes different categories so that every citizen, whether in a crowded city or a remote village, has access:
- Individual Household Toilets (IHHLs): For families who didn’t have one earlier.
- Community Toilets: Shared facilities where household toilets are not practical (e.g., slums, high-density areas).
- Public Toilets: Located in markets, bus stations, schools, and other public spaces for travellers and visitors.
This flexible model ensures that no one is left behind.
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How the Scheme Works
- Financial Help: Eligible households receive financial assistance from the government to build a toilet.
- Monitoring: Toilets are geo-tagged and tracked through mobile apps and dashboards, ensuring transparency.
- Partnerships: Local governments, NGOs, and private partners also help with awareness and construction.
- Behaviour Change Campaigns: Building toilets alone is not enough. SBM ran campaigns like “Darwaza Band” to encourage families to actually use them.
Health and Social Impact
Research shows that SBM toilets have led to real changes in society:
- Better Child Health: A study published in Nature (2024) found that improved sanitation access under SBM directly reduced infant and under-five mortality rates. Simply put, more toilets = healthier children.
- Faster Decline in Infant Mortality: Between 2015 and 2020, India’s infant mortality fell three times faster compared to the earlier decade, partly due to sanitation improvements.
- Women’s Safety and Dignity: Toilets at home mean women no longer need to go out in the dark or unsafe places.
- Cleaner Neighbourhoods: Streets, open fields, and rivers are less polluted, improving the environment for everyone.
Numbers at a Glance
- Over 100 million toilets built under SBM (urban and rural combined).
- ODF (Open Defecation Free) towns and villages: Thousands declared ODF, with monitoring through third-party checks.
- Urban Coverage: SBM Urban alone has built lakhs of household, community, and public toilets across cities.
Source: PIB
Pointers from CSC Data under SBM (G)
- As of the report, 2,00,868 CSCs have been built across India under SBM-Gramin.
- Construction is demand-based, so progress varies widely across states.
States with the Highest CSC Numbers (Cumulative)
- Uttar Pradesh: 59,839 (the single largest share in the country).
- Maharashtra: 17,440 CSCs.
- Rajasthan: 15,194 CSCs.
- Andhra Pradesh: 13,940 CSCs.
- Madhya Pradesh: 13,928 CSCs.
These states together account for nearly 60% of total CSCs in India.
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Smaller States/UTs with Low CSC Numbers
- Puducherry: 10 CSCs (lowest).
- Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu: 53.
- Tripura: 200.
- Ladakh: 302.
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands: 309.
These regions likely depend more on individual household toilets due to smaller populations.
Construction in the Last 3 Years (2019–20 to 2021–22)
- Peak Year: 2020–21 saw the maximum construction with 97,757 CSCs built, followed by 52,868 in 2019–20 and 28,069 in 2021–22.
- This shows a big push during 2020–21, possibly linked to the ODF sustainability drive and COVID-19 sanitation focus.
States Showing Massive Jumps
- Uttar Pradesh: From almost negligible (3 CSCs in 2019–20) to 55,499 in 2020–21.
- Bihar: From 3 in 2019–20 to 8,390 in 2020–21.
- Rajasthan: Big leap in 2020–21 with 8,544 CSCs, followed by 2,858 in 2021–22.
- Madhya Pradesh: From 469 in 2019–20 to 9,673 in 2020–21.
States with Steady but Moderate Progress
- Tamil Nadu: Consistently building (1,576 in 2019–20, 1,507 in 2020–21, and 2,604 in 2021–22).
- Kerala: Balanced numbers each year (258 → 251 → 403).
- Assam: Gradual scale-up with 330 → 1,496 → 669.
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States with Declines or Low Momentum
- Mizoram: 414 in 2019–20, dropped sharply to 72 in 2020–21, and zero in 2021–22.
- Goa: 521 in 2019–20, but only 1 CSC in 2021–22.
- Nagaland: Numbers dropped from 350 in 2020–21 to just 29 in 2021–22.
Key Insights
- Regional Variation: North Indian states (UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, MP) account for the bulk of CSCs due to larger rural populations.
- ODF+ Push: 2020–21 was the turning point with record CSC construction across many states.
- Sustainability Focus: Even after achieving ODF status in 2019, construction continued to support new households and rural growth.
- Equity Gaps: Smaller states and UTs may need focused interventions to ensure all communities get equal access.
Challenges That Remain
While SBM has achieved a lot, there are still issues that need attention:
- Usage vs. Construction: Some households built toilets but do not use them regularly, often due to water shortages or old habits.
- Maintenance: Public and community toilets need better upkeep to stay clean and functional.
- Flood-Prone Areas: In states like Bihar, toilets in low-lying areas sometimes become unusable during monsoon floods.
- Sewage Management: Building toilets is one side of the coin; safe disposal of waste is equally important, and many towns still lack proper sewage systems.
How to Apply for an SBM Toilet
- Online: Visit the official SBM Urban portal and apply under the individual household toilet scheme.
- Offline: Approach your local Urban Local Body (ULB), Gram Panchayat, or Municipal Corporation office with Aadhaar, proof of residence, and photographs.
- Community/Public Toilets: If individual toilets are not possible, the ULB will guide you to nearby community or public facilities.
The Bigger Picture: Why SBM Toilets Matter for India
- They bring health benefits, reducing diarrheal diseases and deaths in children.
- They promote gender equality by giving women privacy and dignity.
- They improve school attendance, especially for girls who previously skipped classes due to lack of toilets.
- They support environmental sustainability, as less waste ends up in fields and water bodies.
Conclusion
The SBM toilet initiative is more than a government project—it’s a movement that reshaped how India views sanitation. With millions of toilets built and significant improvements in health and dignity, it stands as one of the largest public health campaigns in the world.
The next step is ensuring consistent usage, proper maintenance, and safe waste treatment so that the gains of SBM become permanent and future generations inherit a cleaner, healthier India.
📩 If you notice any incorrect data in this guide or wish to share additional information, please write to us at info@indiansouls.in.
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Sudhir Singh
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