World Toilet Day 2025

Why in news?

The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched new campaigns and showcased progress under SBM-U 2.0 on account of World Toilet Day.

World Toilet Day – November 19.

• Purpose – To raise awareness and inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis and ensure safe toilets and sanitation for all.
• Theme, 2025 – “Sanitation: Collective Responsibility for Dignity and Planet”
• It emphasizes dignity, inclusivity, and environmental stewardship and aligns with SDG-6 and India’s climate-resilient sanitation goals.

World Toilet Summit 2025

• Co-hosted by – Sulabh International, World Toilet Organization, Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
• Attended by – Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs & Jal Shakti, delegates from 25 countries, including South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bhutan.
• Partners – World Bank, Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).

Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban (SBM-U) 2.0 & Aspirational Toilets

• Entered a new phase of urban sanitation – the journey from Open Defecation Free (ODF) to ODF+ and to ODF++ status, most importantly safe sanitation.
• 29,000 Aspirational Toilet seats approved with smart, inclusive, and eco-friendly designs.
• Features include -
  • smart features and user-friendly designs,
  • accessible and inclusive infrastructure,
  • gender-neutral and child-friendly facilities,
  • environmentally sustainable technologies.
• SBM Achievements –
  • India declared ODF in 2019, just 5 years after Swachh Bharat Mission began in 2014.
  • Rural sanitation – 12 crore toilets were constructed built, saving nearly 3 lakh children annually from diarrhoea-related deaths.
  • Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) report, 2024 – Nearly 55 million urban residents in India have gained access to improved sanitation in 2 years.

Urban Innovations & Partnerships

• Initiatives – Swachhata Startup Challenge and Toilet Design Challenge launched to foster innovation.
• MoUs signed – With HUL for PPP models in community toilets & Sulabh International for maintenance in high-footfall zones.
• Campaigns launched –
  • ‘Toilet Paas Hai’ and ‘Main Saaf Hi Achha Hoon’ to promote responsible toilet use.
  • Swachh Aadatein – 21 Dinon Ka Prashikshan Pathyakram for early hygiene education.
• Training modules released for CT/PT design and SafaiMitras’ dignity and safety.

Reference

PIB | World Toilet Day, 2025