New Delhi, Sep 8 (PTI) The Swachh Survekshan Grameen, 2021, a survey of cleanliness, hygiene and sanitation to boost the government's push for Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus status for villages, will be launched on Thursday, the Jal Shakti Ministry said.

According to an official, the programme will be launched by Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and his deputy Prahlad Singh Patel.

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An expert agency has been hired to carry out the Swachh Survekshan Grameen, 2021, which will be launched under the phase two of the Swachh Bharat Mission. The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation had commissioned the 'Swachh Survekshan Grameen' in 2018 and 2019.

The ministry said 17,475 villages in 698 districts of the country will be covered by the Swachh Survekshan Grameen. Around 87,250 public places, such as schools, anganwadi centres, public health centres, markets, religious places will be visited for the survey, it said.

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Around 1,74,750 households will be interviewed for their feedback on Swachh Bharat Mission-related issues. Citizens will be mobilised to provide feedback online on sanitation issues.

"Swachh Survekshan Grameen, 2021, will be launched under the Swachh Bharat Mission Phase-two on September 9. As part of the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', Swachh Survekshan Grameen aims to support the acceleration of ODF-plus interventions and results in the country," the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

ODF-plus is aimed at ensuring solid and liquid waste management.

This includes ensuring all households, schools, panchayat buildings and anganwadi centres in a village have access to toilets and that all public places and at least 80 per cent of households effectively manage their solid and liquid waste with minimal litter and minimal stagnant water.

For the Swachh Survekshan Grameen survey, 30 per cent weightage will be given for direct observation of sanitation at public places, 35 per cent for citizen's feedback, including feedback from common citizens, key influencers at the village level, and 35 per cent for service level progress on sanitation-related parameters.

A detailed protocol has been developed to guide the ranking of districts based on their performance on key quality and quantitative parameters, the ministry said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)