One of the key programming approaches adopted in the UNICEF global strategy for WASH (2016-2030) is to build large-scale sustainable markets for sanitation goods and services that balance demand and supply.  Given that many markets in low-income countries are very weak and poorly developed, there is a need for governments and development partners to work together to influence and shape markets to ensure that products and services are available and affordable to those who need them.

This paper reports on two surveys in rural north India. The first survey visited rural Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh in late 2018. It collected data on 9,812 people and interviewed 156 local government officials. The second survey, in Udaipur district, visited 505 households in 19 villages and 60 households in two census towns.
This new research sheds light on what the SBM did and on changes in open defecation since 2014. It is informative about changes because researchers revisited families who participated in a 2014 survey.

The clock is counting down to 2nd October 2019, the Government of India’s date to eradicate open defecation. It is quickly becoming clear the Government is looking at how to consolidate gains made in the past few years on sanitation and not being undone by slippages. As the mission has progressed, the sanitation coverage of rural India has increased to 94.73% and 19 states and UTS, 432 districts and 422,650 villages have been declared as open defecation-free (ODF). Still, there is need to construct as many 148 million toilets in one year (SBM MIS, 2018).

A regional Rapid Action Learning (RAL) workshop to share, learn and plan for the implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission with quality and sustainability was organised by the state government of Jharkhand with the support of Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) in Ranchi on 18-19 September 2018.