Bihar Ranked Best Eastern State in Rural Sanitation

Bihar has made a tremendous leap in the rural sanitation sector, and the central government has officially recognized it as the best performing state in the eastern region.

The state has performed excellently on parameters such as Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus status, Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM), and grassroots-level community participation.

In the district-wise ranking of Bihar state, Bhagalpur emerged as the best performing district in the entire eastern region and Supaul also received considerable appreciation.

The state successfully implemented user charges for waste management services in more than 4,000 gram panchayats.

The active participation of women’s groups and Self Help Groups (SHGs) helped in bringing behavioral change among people and maintaining sanitation infrastructure.

The state’s focus was not limited only to the construction of Individual Household Latrines (IHHL), but emphasis was also laid on ensuring the sustainability of ODF, creating proper drainage systems and plastic waste management.

Solid waste management units were established in many rural areas, which convert village organic waste into useful organic manure.

Region-wise districts with the best performance in the rural sanitation sector

Central region : Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh)

Eastern region : Bhagalpur (Bihar)

Northern region : Rohtak (Haryana)

North-Eastern region : Chumoukedima (Nagaland)

Western region : Satara (Maharashtra)

Southern region : Karimnagar (Telangana)

Union Territory : D & N Haveli (Uttar Pradesh)