0ver 12 crore toilets built across India as ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ set to enter ninth year

New Delhi: More than 12 crore toilets have been constructed across India, marking a major milestone in the sanitation journey as the Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2025 campaign set to enter its ninth year.

The campaign under the aegis of Swachh Bharat Mission, will start from 17th September and culminating on 2nd October, Gandhi Jayanti. The 15-day campaign will mobilize millions across the nation in a collective call to action for high-impact swachhata drives.

Addressing a press conference here, Minister of Jal Shakti C.R. Patil said the massive achievement reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of spreading mass awareness on cleanliness and transforming public health outcomes.

Mr Patil highlighted that the large-scale construction of toilets has resulted in a sharp decline in open defecation and a significant improvement in the safety and dignity of women.

Quoting a World Health Organization (WHO) report, he said nearly three lakh lives of children under five years of age have been saved due to the reduction in open defecation-related diseases.

Recalling the early days of the mission, the Minister said that when it began,only 37 percent of households had toilets, whereas today over 12 crore families have access to sanitation facilities.

He announced that SHS 2025 will be observed during a period marked by important dates– the Prime Minister’s birthday on 17 September, the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay on 25 September, and the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri on 2 October.

He added that the “Swachhata Utsav” will continue till Diwali to encourage widespread public participation. In a major welfare initiative, Mr Patil announced ₹8–10 crore SafaiMitra Suraksha Fund for Surat and Navsari to support sanitation workers and their families with educational aid and interest-free loans.

He also stressed the Ministry’s efforts to create plastic-free villages and curb single-use plastic. To mark Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay’s birth anniversary, a one-hour nationwide cleanliness drive will be conducted on 25 September.

With the launch of SHS 2025, the government aims to build on the achievements of the Swachh Bharat Mission by deepening public engagement and ensuring lasting improvements in hygiene, health, and environmental sustainability.

Secretary, Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation (DDWS),Ashok KK Meena, gave the SHS 2025 outline, where he shared that SHS 2025 is anchored around the theme of ‘Swachhotsav’, that will champion the spirit of cleanliness in harmony with the festive celebrations across the country.

The campaign aims to harness the vibrant energy of the season, blending culture, community participation, and festive fervour, to set new benchmarks for eco-friendly and zero-waste celebrations.