(PTI)
The government today informed the Rajya Sabha that it had constructed more than 500 lakh toilets under Swachh Bharat Mission. Minister of State for Drinking Water and Sanitation Ramesh Chandappa Jigajinagi told the Upper House that it built 561.75 lakh toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission (rural). Nearly 29.08 lakh toilets were constructed under the MGNREGA and seven states/UTs were declared Open Defecation Free (ODF), he added.
In a written reply, the government said Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) was a demand-driven scheme and hence state-wise funds were not allocated. The minister stated that states/UTs had to first furnish details of utilised and unutilised funds for release of central funds under SBM. Jigajinagi provided the Upper House a list of state-wise share of central funding and utilisation during the last three years and the current year.
