In 2018, Haryana became the first Indian state to be declared free from open defecation as part of a major public sanitation effort under the "Swachh Bharat Abhiyan" initiative. This campaign, launched by the Indian government, aimed to improve hygiene and health conditions by providing access to toilets and promoting behavioral change. The success in Haryana indicated significant progress in the nationwide goal of eliminating open defecation, representing a crucial step in enhancing living standards and public health.