The reality of the Swachh Bharat Mission – UPSC

The Swachh Bharat Mission, launched by the Indian government in 2014, stands as a testament to India’s ambitious pursuit of cleanliness and sanitation for all its citizens. Rooted in the vision of a clean and hygienic India, the mission aims to eliminate open defecation, improve waste management practices, and promote a culture of cleanliness across the nation. Over the years, it has garnered attention both domestically and internationally, symbolizing a significant commitment to public health, environmental sustainability, and social progress. However, the reality of the Swachh Bharat Mission is multifaceted, marked by achievements, challenges, and ongoing efforts to realize its objectives comprehensively.

Tags: GS Paper – 2, HealthGovernment Policies & Interventions 

Prelims: Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin, Open Defecation Free Status, Gobar Dhan, Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan, Swachhata App, Garbage Free Cities (GFC)-Star rating, Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations, Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Scheme. (GOBAR-DHAN). 

 Mains: Issues and Challenges in the Implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) 

Context:   

• India ranked last among 180 countries in the 2022 Environment Performance Index (EPI), which evaluates climate change performance, environmental health, and ecosystem vitality using 40 indicators across 11 categories like air quality and sanitation. 
• Despite efforts like SBM addressing Water, Sanitation, and Health (WASH) issues and Smart Cities Mission focusing on clean energy, there’s an observed rise in population vulnerability due to air and water pollution. 

Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM:  

• The Swachh Bharat Mission, launched on October 2, 2014, is a nationwide initiative aiming to achieve a Clean India by 2019.  
• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs oversees the urban component, while the rural component is managed by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. 

Swachh Bharat Mission for Urban Areas: 

Phase 1: 

• The program targets the eradication of open defecation, upgrading unsanitary toilets to pour flush toilets, eliminating manual scavenging, managing municipal solid waste, and fostering a shift in people’s behaviour towards healthy sanitation practices. 
• Goals include covering 1.04 crore households, providing 2.5 lakh community toilets, 2.6 lakh public toilets, and establishing solid waste management facilities in each town. 
• Public toilets will be strategically placed in tourist spots, markets, bus and railway stations, etc., across 4,401 towns over five years. 
• The Central Government will contribute up to 40% of the community toilet construction cost as a Viability Gap Funding (VGF) or outright grant.  
• States/UTs will add 13.33%, with North-Eastern and special category states contributing 4%. The rest will be sourced through urban local bodies, with an approximate cost of Rs 65,000 per seat. 

Phase 2: 

• SBM-U 2.0 aims to make all cities ‘Garbage Free,’ manage grey and black water, and achieve ODF+ status for all urban local bodies and ODF++ for those with fewer than 1 lakh population. This involves safe sanitation practices and waste management. 
• Focus areas include source segregation of solid waste, utilising 3Rs principles (reduce, reuse, recycle), scientific processing of municipal solid waste, and remediating legacy dumpsites. 
• SBM-U 2.0 has an outlay of approximately Rs 1.41 lakh crore for 2021-22 to 2025-26, covering sustainable sanitation, wastewater treatment, solid waste management, information, education, communication, and capacity building. 

Swachh Bharat Mission for Rural Areas: 

Phase 1: 

• The Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan was transformed into the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) (SBM(G)), launched on October 2, 2014, aiming to achieve cleanliness and Open Defecation Free (ODF) status in India within five years. 
• It focuses on enhancing cleanliness levels in rural areas through Solid and Liquid Waste Management, ensuring Gram Panchayats are ODF, clean, and sanitised. 
• Under SBM(G), households received up to Rs. 12,000 for constructing one IHHL unit, covering water availability for hand-washing and cleaning. 
• The Central Government contributed Rs. 9,000 (75%) towards IHHL incentives, with States contributing Rs. 3,000 (25%). In special cases, Central shares were higher. 
• In North Eastern and Special category States, the Central share was Rs. 10,800, with the State contributing Rs. 1,200 (90% : 10%). Beneficiaries were encouraged to contribute additionally to promote ownership of IHHL construction. 

Phase 2: 

• Having achieved ODF India from 2014 to 2019, Phase-II of SBM(G) was approved in February 2020, with a total outlay of Rs. 1,40,881 crores. 
• Phase-II focuses on sustaining ODF status and managing Solid and Liquid Waste, emphasising convergence between different funding sources and government schemes. 
• Implemented in mission mode from 2020-21 to 2024-25, SBM(G) Phase-II aims to ensure continued sanitation efforts and overall cleanliness in rural areas. 

Different Components of SBM: 

1. Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan: 

• Under SBM, the Ministry of Education initiated the Swachh Vidyalaya Programme to ensure separate toilets for boys and girls in all government schools within one year. 
• The program focuses on essential interventions related to water, sanitation, and hygiene, aiming for comprehensive development. 

• Financial support is provided to States/Union Territories to facilitate toilet construction in schools under schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA). 

2. Rashtriya Swachhata Kosh: 

• Established to mobilise philanthropic and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds, the Swachh Bharat Kosh (SBK) aims to enhance cleanliness levels in both rural and urban areas, including schools. 
• Funds from SBK supplement departmental resources, with potential tax rebates to incentivize contributions from individuals and corporations. 

3. GOBAR-DHAN: 

• Launched by the Ministry of Jal Shakti in 2018, the Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Scheme (GOBAR-DHAN) aims to boost farmers’ income by converting biodegradable waste into compressed biogas (CBG). 

Achievements of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan:  

• Sanitation Coverage Surge: Under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G), sanitation coverage in India skyrocketed from 39% in 2014 to 100% in 2019, achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status. 
• ODF Plus Goals: SBM aimed to transition to ODF Plus status by 2024-25, with approximately 85% of villages already achieving this milestone. 
• Toilet Access: According to the National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey (NARSS) Round 3, 95% of India’s rural population now has access to toilets, with 79% owning their own facilities, significantly reducing open defecation and associated diseases. 
• Public Toilets: Over 6 lakh community and public toilets have been constructed across India, enhancing sanitation infrastructure and accessibility. 
• Waste Management Improvements: Door-to-door waste collection, segregation, and scientific processing have improved in several cities and towns, aided by biomethanation plants and material recovery facilities, addressing India’s waste management challenges. 
• Behavioural Change Campaigns: The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched mass awareness campaigns promoting behavioural change, fostering cleaner practices among citizens and bringing sanitation to the forefront of public discourse. 
• Competition for Cleanliness: Initiatives like Swachhta leagues and city rankings have spurred positive competition, motivating towns and cities to enhance cleanliness systems and practices, leading to rising public satisfaction. 
• Investment in Waste Management: Over Rs 20,000 crores have been mobilised for investment in solid and liquid waste management systems, bolstering urban infrastructure development across the nation. 

Different Issues Being Witnessed in Implementation of SBM: 

• Persistent Traditional Beliefs Regarding Sanitation Work: Historically, sanitation and waste management in India have been intertwined with caste-based practices, perpetuating inequality. Despite SBM’s aim to promote sanitation as a collective responsibility, caste dynamics continue to influence these practices. 
• Limited Opposition to SBM: While SBM is portrayed as a successful project, critiques suggest it hasn’t effectively addressed underlying issues. State agencies govern the project, favouring capital-intensive technologies. However, caste-based sanitation practices persist despite the project’s implementation. 
• Lack of Universal Toilet Access: Although the government claims India is open defecation-free, reports question the effectiveness of SBM, highlighting issues like poor toilet construction quality. In urban areas, slum communities often lack access to public toilets, while rural areas lack proper waste treatment facilities. 
• Inadequate Waste Treatment in Peri-urban Areas: Peri-urban areas face challenges in managing faecal sludge, leading to environmental pollution. Manual scavengers clean septic tanks, disposing of sludge in water systems, further exacerbating sanitation concerns. 

• Technology Falling Short: Despite intentions to reduce manual involvement through capital-intensive technologies, many installations have failed to deliver promised results, leaving towns grappling with resource shortages and health crises due to mismanaged waste. 
• Privatisation and Caste Discrimination: Outsourcing waste management to private contractors has led to the exploitation of marginalised communities, primarily Dalits, perpetuating caste-based discrimination and privatising public health services. 
• Shortage of Sanitation Inspectors: The lack of sanitation inspectors, such as in Shimla Municipal Corporation, hampers effective monitoring and enforcement of sanitation standards, exacerbating challenges in waste management. 
• Water Supply Deficiency: In rural areas, inadequate water supply poses a significant challenge to toilet usage, with only a fraction of households having access to water for sanitation purposes, contributing to high rates of non-usage. 
• Persistence of Open Defecation: Despite a decrease in open defecation rates, a substantial portion of the rural population still practises it, driven by traditional beliefs and misconceptions about hygiene, cleanliness, and religious norms. Children under 15 are particularly affected, posing health risks. 
• Socio-economic Disparities: Wealthier states exhibit varied progress in toilet usage compared to economically disadvantaged ones, suggesting the need for tailored approaches to address diverse socio-economic contexts. States like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Gujarat show slower improvements, indicating the program’s unequal impact across state 

The Various Ways to Improve the Effectiveness of SBM: 

1. Focusing on Vulnerable Sections: 

• Despite significant progress in sanitation coverage, marginalised groups such as female-headed households, landless individuals, migrant labourers, and people with disabilities still lack access to toilets.  
• Supporting these underserved populations is essential from both human rights and public health perspectives, given their existing lack of access to basic services and associated health challenges. 

2. Integration With Public Health Infrastructure: 

• There is a need for further development of sanitation practices in educational institutions, child-care centres, hospitals, and other government facilities.  
• Disaggregated data on sanitation coverage in public facilities and among government departments requires innovation to ensure long-term feasibility, which is crucial for public health infrastructure. 

3. Promoting Adequate Behavioural Change: 

• Merely providing access to toilets is insufficient to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 by 2030. India’s diverse cultural landscape necessitates promoting hygienic sanitation practices beyond toilet construction.  

4. Improving Sewer Infrastructure in Village Areas: 

• Effective sewage systems are essential for successful sanitation initiatives in rural areas. Addressing sewage treatment challenges is crucial before constructing toilets to ensure proper waste management.  
• Integration with the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) program is necessary for rural areas’ sewer infrastructure development. 

5. Robust Waste Management Systems: 

• Scaling up waste processing and emphasising source segregation, collection, storage, transportation, processing, and disposal are essential for achieving comprehensive waste management nationwide. 

6. Supplementing Urban Local Bodies: 

• Intensifying strategies for providing basic services to urban areas and enhancing citizen participation in urban management are critical.  
• Urban local bodies require adequate support and resources to improve on-ground implementation of schemes and enhance infrastructure and capability. 

7. Addressing the Tax Burden: 

• The increased tax burden under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime on the recycling and composting industry contradicts sanitation goals.  
• Rationalising GST rates for recyclables and composting machines is necessary to promote sustainable waste management practices. 

8. Adoption and Integration of Technologies: 

• Incorporating e-Governance solutions such as mobile apps and dashboards developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) can facilitate tracking of progress in sanitation initiatives.  
• A robust e-governance system should enable users to enter sanitation assets and coordinates using mobile apps, ensuring scalability, security, and interoperability. 

Conclusion:    

Hence, India has made significant strides in achieving SDG 6 through increased toilet access under SBM. However, it must also consider environmental safety and disease transmission, particularly for children’s health. Addressing the complexities identified in SBM will demonstrate India’s commitment to universal sanitation and meeting SDG targets, setting an example for other nations. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ) 

Prelims: 

Q:1 As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, which one of the following statements is correct? (2019) 

(a) Waste generator has to segregate waste into five categories. 

(b) The Rules are applicable to notified urban local bodies, notified towns and all industrial townships only 

(c) The Rules provide for exact and elaborate criteria for the identification of sites for landfills and waste processing facilities. 

(d) It is mandatory on the part of the waste generator that the waste generated in one district cannot be moved to another district. 

Ans: (c) 

Mains: 

Q:1  What are the impediments in disposing of the huge quantities of discarded solid waste which are continuously being generated? How do we safely remove the toxic wastes that have been accumulating in our habitable environment? (2021) 

Q:2 “To ensure effective implementation of policies addressing the water, sanitation and hygiene needs the identification of the beneficiary segments is to be synchronised with anticipated outcomes.” Examine the statement in the context of the WASH scheme. (2017) 

Q:3 How could social influence and persuasion contribute to the success of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan? (2016) 

Source:  (TH) 

FAQs

Q: What is the Swachh Bharat Mission?

The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) is a nationwide cleanliness campaign launched by the Government of India in 2014 with the aim of making India clean and open defecation free by October 2, 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Q: Has the Swachh Bharat Mission been successful?

Yes, to a large extent. The SBM has made significant strides in improving sanitation infrastructure, promoting toilet construction, and raising awareness about the importance of cleanliness and hygiene. Millions of toilets have been built, and open defecation rates have reduced substantially across the country. However, challenges such as sustaining behavioral changes and ensuring the maintenance of infrastructure remain.

Q: What impact has the Swachh Bharat Mission had on public health?

The SBM has had a positive impact on public health by reducing the prevalence of waterborne diseases caused by poor sanitation and open defecation. Access to clean toilets and improved hygiene practices has led to a decline in diarrheal diseases and other sanitation-related illnesses, thereby improving overall health outcomes, especially among children.

Q: How has the Swachh Bharat Mission addressed the issue of waste management?

The SBM has not only focused on improving sanitation facilities but also emphasized waste management through initiatives such as solid waste management and cleanliness drives. Efforts have been made to promote waste segregation at source, recycling, and proper disposal of waste, leading to cleaner surroundings and reduced environmental pollution.

Q: What are some ongoing challenges facing the Swachh Bharat Mission?

While the SBM has made significant progress, challenges such as ensuring the sustainability of sanitation infrastructure, changing societal attitudes towards cleanliness, and addressing disparities in access to sanitation facilities persist. Continued government support, community engagement, and innovative approaches are essential for overcoming these challenges and achieving the long-term goals of the mission.

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