The Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 is the second phase of a mission launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). The first phase, which ran from 2014 to 2019, aimed to make urban India free from open defecation and improve municipal solid waste management. The second phase, announced in the 2021-2022 Budget, will continue this important work over the next five years with an outlay of Rs.1.41 lakh crore.
The Launch of Swachh Survekshan 2023
As part of this initiative, MoHUA has recently launched the eighth edition of Swachh Survekshan (SS) – SS 2023. This survey, first introduced in 2016, was designed to encourage cities to improve urban sanitation practices and promote widespread citizen participation. With each passing year, Swachh Survekshan has grown to become the world’s largest urban sanitation survey.
The Focus of Swachh Survekshan 2023
SS 2023 is primarily focused on achieving circularity in waste management, emphasizing the principle of 3Rs – Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse. New elements have been introduced this year, such as additional importance placed on source segregation of waste, enhancing waste processing capacity of cities, reducing waste going to dumpsites, and promoting the phased reduction of plastic.
Rankings and Assessments under Swachh Survekshan 2023
Cities participating in SS 2023 will also be ranked based on specific indicators and practices. Ward rankings within the cities will be promoted and the surveyors will assess dedicated indicators concerning open urination and spitting in public areas. MoHUA has also declared its intention to promote the cleaning of back lanes in residential and commercial districts.
Understanding Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0
SBM-U 2.0, as it is colloquially referred to, intends to safely contain, transport, dispose of fecal sludge, and manage septage from toilets. It will continue the progress of the first phase of the mission by broadening the focus to source segregation of garbage, single-use plastic reduction, air pollution control, managing construction and demolition waste, and bioremediation of all legacy dump sites.
Mission Outcomes and Goals
Under SBM-U 2.0, all wastewater will be treated before being discharged into water bodies and reuse of treated water will be a priority. The government has set ambitious goals for all statutory towns. Targets include achieving ODF+ certification, which focuses on toilets with water, maintenance, and hygiene, ODF++ certification that emphasises on toilets with sludge and septage management, and Garbage Free rating as per MoHUA’s Star Rating Protocol for Garbage Free cities. Another important aim is the Bioremediation of all legacy dumpsites.
