The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), or the Clean India Mission, entered its last phase of implementation as it marked the beginning of its fifth year. Launched on October 2, 2014, the mission seeks to fulfil a vision of a clean India by October 2, 2019, honoring Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary.
Understanding the Basics of Swachh Bharat Mission
The Secretary of the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS) serves as the Mission Coordinator for SBM. The mission is divided into two Sub-Missions: the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) focusing on rural areas and the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) targeting urban centres.
Unlike previous initiatives such as the Central Rural Sanitation Programme that emphasised construction or supply, SBM introduced a paradigm shift by adopting a demand-centric model. The mission’s strategy revolves around triggering behavioural changes among the rural population to generate their demand for sanitation services, which would then be met through supply.
Measuring the Progress
India’s rural sanitation coverage has witnessed a remarkable uptick from 39% in 2014 to 95% in 2018 under the scope of this mission. Approximately 8.7 crore household toilets have been built, with equal emphasis placed on quantity and quality of work carried out. The National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey (NARSS) revealed that 93.4% of households in rural India with toilet access use them, indicating a ground-level transformation in hygiene practices.
Communication Strategy at the Ground Level
In addition to infrastructure, SBM also focuses on promoting sustainable behaviour changes. This is achieved through SBM foot soldiers, known as Swachhagrahis, who engage communities in discussions and awareness campaigns. Their on-ground personal interactions complemented with mass media campaigns at the national level have been crucial in driving behavioural transformation.
Impact of the Swachh Bharat Mission
The initiative has recorded significant gains in public health and economics. World Health Organization (WHO) reports predict that by 2019, SBM will have saved around 300,000 lives, with an estimated 150,000 lives being saved annually thereafter. Furthermore, a study titled ‘The Financial and Economic Impact of SBM in India (2017)’ by UNICEF states that a household in an open defecation-free (ODF) village can save up to Rs.50,000 per year.
Moreover, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) carried out research which showed that children in ODF villages displayed considerable reductions in diarrhoea prevalence and stunting compared to their counterparts in non-ODF villages. These results offer a testament to SBM’s impact on improving living standards and reflect the broader societal benefits engendered by this mission.
Last Modified: February 6, 2024