In the recent news, the honourable Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra (RSK) on 8th August, 2020. The RSK is an initiative centered on the already successful Swachh Bharat Mission, aimed to provide an interactive experience.
An Overview of Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra
The Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra or RSK is not merely a building but an interactive platform visualized as a journey through India’s transformation from Satyagraha to Swachagraha. The centre will present comprehensive information, education and awareness about Swachhata (sanitation) and its related aspects. The original announcement for RSK came amidst centenary celebrations commemorating Mahatma Gandhi’s Champaran Satyagraha.
Visitors will engage in immersive shows relayed through audio-visual installations, interactive LED panels, holographic boxes and participate in interactive games. RSK strives to extend the impact of the world’s largest behavioral change campaign to future generations, making them aware of the importance and success of this mission thus far.
The Swachh Bharat Mission
Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), alternatively known as the Clean India Mission, was initiated on 2nd October 2014. Its primary objectives include elimination of open defecation, eradication of manual scavenging, modernization and science-based management of municipal solid waste, and instigating healthier sanitation practices.
SBM branches into two sub-missions: Swachh Bharat Mission for urban areas (SBM-U), led by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and Swachh Bharat Mission for rural areas (SBM-G), directed by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. Recently, the SBM-U has proudly announced hitting their target of establishing an urban India free of open defecation.
Key Achievements of Swachh Bharat Mission
In rural areas, covered under Swachh Bharat Mission (G), the sanitation coverage has seen a significant rise from 38.7% to 100%. Since the inception of the mission, over ten crore individual toilets have been constructed. Consequently, as of 2nd October 2019, all rural regions in all Indian states have proclaimed themselves open defecation free (ODF).
The Road Ahead for Swachh Bharat Mission
Though we’ve successfully achieved the goal of making India ODF and enhancing Solid and Liquid Waste Management, the work is far from over. The aim is not just to initiate change but to sustain it. Therefore, the second phase of the SBM must focus on the convergence of different financing verticals along with various central and state government schemes. This continued effort will ensure that the behavioral changes regarding sanitation practices become deeply ingrained into our society, bettering our surrounding environment and quality of life in the long run.
