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Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, also known as the Clean India Mission, stands as one of India’s most ambitious and transformative campaigns to promote cleanliness, sanitation, and hygiene. Launched on October 2, 2014, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the initiative sought to address several pressing issues that had long plagued the nation, including open defecation, inadequate waste management, and the need for enhanced menstrual health awareness.
Phase 1: 2014-2019
The first phase of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, lasting from its inception until October 2, 2019, aimed at achieving an “open-defecation-free” (ODF) India. This monumental task involved the construction of an estimated 89.9 million toilets across the country. Additionally, it aimed to eradicate manual scavenging, raise awareness about sanitation practices, and build capacity at the local level for effective waste management.
Phase 2: 2020-2025
Building upon the accomplishments of Phase 1, the second phase of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, spanning from 2020 to 2025, seeks to sustain the ODF status achieved and further enhance solid and liquid waste management. This phase also emphasizes improving the working conditions and lives of sanitation workers, a vital aspect of the mission.
Global Recognition and Achievements
The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.2, which aims to provide sanitation for all by 2030. Remarkably, India achieved this target ahead of schedule, becoming open defecation-free in 2019, a significant milestone in public health and sanitation.
Key Features and Implementation
The campaign’s official name is in Hindi, translating to “Clean India Mission” in English. It was launched with great fanfare at Rajghat, New Delhi, and inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s commitment to cleanliness and hygiene. In fact, PM Modi referred to it as “Satyagrah se Swachhagrah” during a rally in Champaran, connecting it to Gandhi’s historical Champaran Satyagraha launched in 1916.
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan had both rural and urban components. “SBM – Gramin” was managed by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, while “SBM – Urban” fell under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The rural division operated through a five-tier mechanism: central, state, district, block panchayat, and gram panchayat.
The campaign employed volunteers called Swachhagrahis, or “Ambassadors of Cleanliness,” to promote toilet construction using the Community-Led Total Sanitation method at the village level. NGOs like The Ugly Indian, Waste Warriors, and SWACH Pune played essential roles in real-time monitoring and updates.
Challenges and Criticisms
While the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan achieved remarkable success, it faced criticism for using coercive measures to compel people to use toilets. Some individuals were stopped from open defecation and threatened with the withdrawal of government benefits. Nevertheless, the campaign made substantial progress in improving sanitation infrastructure and practices across India.
Budget and Funding
The Government of India and state governments allocated significant funds for the campaign. The central government released approximately $5.8 billion (Rs 40,700 crore) for toilet construction in 700,000 villages. The total budget for both rural and urban components was estimated at $28 billion, primarily allocated for construction, behavior change campaigns, and administration.
Historical Context
The need for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan arose from the stark reality of open defecation and inadequate sanitation coverage in India. Before its launch, only 34% of rural households owned toilets, and approximately 600 million people practiced open defecation, contributing to water contamination and public health challenges.
The campaign followed several previous sanitation interventions in India, such as the Central Rural Sanitation Programme, the Total Sanitation Campaign, and the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyaan. These efforts primarily focused on constructing toilets but often lacked effective behavior change campaigns.
Conclusion
The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, India’s Clean India Mission, has transformed the nation’s sanitation landscape. With its two phases, the campaign has not only eradicated open defecation but also improved waste management, menstrual health awareness, and the lives of sanitation workers. It stands as a shining example of a successful nationwide initiative, aligning with global sustainability goals and significantly improving public health and hygiene across the country.
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