TSC was launched in 1999 by government of India with an aim of achieving goal of Total sanitation and eradication of open defecation by 2012. Nirmal Gram Puraskar was started as part of this initiative to recognize the efforts of individuals/institutions in enabling full sanitation coverage in their units. Uptill 2009 total of 22,618 Gram Puraskars were awarded all over India, highest being in the state of Maharashtra. The campaign has been able to achieve availability of toilets and sanitation facilities to almost 50% of the Indian population.