The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 2, 2014.
- It marked the completion of 10 years on October 2, 2024.
- The Prime Minister called the “Clean India Campaign” a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary in 2019.
Divisions of SBM:
- SBM-Gramin: Focuses on rural areas, led by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
- SBM-Urban: Focuses on cities, managed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Focus Areas of SBM:
- Building individual and community toilets.
- Improving solid waste management.
- Leading behavioral change campaigns.
Targets of SBM:
- The main goal was to make India open defecation free (ODF) by October 2, 2019.
- Household and community toilets were to be built across the country.
- A city or village could be declared ODF if no one was seen defecating in the open.
- The mission also aimed to provide:
- Sanitary waste disposal systems.
- Waste management facilities for both organic and inorganic materials.
- Liquid waste management for areas with unfit water for human consumption.
Achievements So Far:
- Over 10 crore toilets constructed.
- On October 2, 2019, all Indian villages were declared ODF.
- 54 lakh villages and 3,913 cities were declared ODF.
- Post-ODF, these areas have improved liquid waste management.
- 66 lakh individual toilets were constructed against a target of 59 lakh.
- 97% of urban households now have door-to-door waste collection.
Current Challenges:
- Landfill Clearance: Only 30% of the target to clear 4,240 landfills by 2026 has been achieved.
- Waste Remediation: Only 41% of the goal has been met, requiring further efforts.
- Waste Collection: While 97% of urban households have door-to-door collection, waste segregation and management remain inadequate.
- Sustainability: Maintaining ODF status and sanitation infrastructure over the long term remains a challenge.
Impact of the Mission:
- A 2018 WHO study estimated SBM had prevented 199 million cases of diarrhoea and 3 lakh deaths related to malnutrition.
- The use of safe sanitation facilities increased to 90% by October 2019.
- Studies have linked infant mortality reduction with improved sanitation.
- Infant deaths decreased from 2014 to 2020, though no significant reduction was noted between 2003 and 2015.
As SBM moves into its second decade, the mission’s impact on public health and sanitation is evident, though challenges like waste management and sustaining ODF status remain. Continued efforts and community involvement will be key in building a cleaner, sustainable future for all.
