Primary Source: Secondary Sources: Tags:

Yojana PIB, SBM, MoHUA #Mains #GSPaperII #Governance #Schemes #Sanitation

Context: The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) has marked the completion of 10 years since its launch.

Introduction: A Historical Perspective on Sanitation in India

• Sanitation in India has deep historical roots, tracing back to the Indus Valley Civilisation where cities
like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro demonstrated advanced waste management systems.
• Despite such inspiring traditions, modern India faces significant challenges in providing adequate
sanitation to its rapidly growing population.
• In 2014, sanitation coverage was only 39 per cent, leaving over 55 crore people, particularly in rural
areas, without access to basic toilet facilities and indulging in Open Defecation.
• India’s journey towards improving sanitation has been a long one:

About the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)

• Launch: SBM was launched on 2nd October 2014, coinciding with the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi,
as a national movement.
• Objective: To accelerate efforts towards achieving universal sanitation coverage and raise awareness
about sanitation.
• Sub-missions: The mission consists of two sub-missions, both of which are centrally sponsored schemes.
o Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin): Managed by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
o Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban): Managed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
(MoHUA).

SBM-
• The focus was on making India Open Defecation Free (ODF).
Grameen:
• By October 2019, over 6 lakh villages were declared as ODF,
Phase I (2014-
marking a significant milestone.
2019)
• Having achieved the ODF status, SBM-G Phase II was launched
with the objective of achieving Sampoorn Swachhata.
Swachh • The key objective of SBM-G Phase II to:
Bharat o Sustain the ODF status of villages.
Mission SBM- o Improve the level of cleanliness in rural areas through solid and
(Gramin) Grameen: liquid waste management activities, making villages ODF
Phase II (2019- Plus. This includes:
2025) ▪ ODF Sustainability.
▪ Solid Waste Management.
▪ Liquid Waste Management.
▪ Visual Cleanliness.
• The total estimated outlay of SBM(G) Phase-II is Rs.1.40 lakh crores.
 • Objectives:
o Achieve Open Defecation Free (ODF) status across urban
India.
SBM-Urban:
o Ensure 100% scientific management of municipal solid waste.
Phase I (2014-
• Achievements:
2019)
o Construction of over 66 lakh individual household toilets and
more than 5 lakh community and public toilet seats.
o All cities in 23 States/UTs declared ODF by October 2019.
• Objectives:
o Sustain the ODF status achieved during Phase I.
Swachh
o Focus on achieving Garbage Free status for all cities through
Bharat
comprehensive solid waste management.
Mission
o Ensure safe management of faecal sludge and wastewater,
(Urban)
aiming for ODF+ and ODF++ status.
SBM-Urban: • Key Components:
Phase II (2021- o Source segregation of waste to promote recycling and reduce
2026): landfill burden.
o Implementation of scientific processing and disposal of
municipal solid waste.
o Encouragement of behavioural change through Information,
Education, and Communication (IEC) activities.
• Financial Outlay: The total estimated outlay for SBM-U Phase II is
₹1.41 lakh crore.

Why Swachh Bharat Mission?

• The rationale behind SBM stemmed from the recognition that sanitation is a multi-dimensional issue.
Poor sanitation affects public health, gender equity, environmental sustainability, and economic
development.
• The Swachh Bharat Mission sought to address these interconnected challenges holistically.

Aspect The Challenge Impact of SBM

• As per the recent Nature Report,
• Inadequate sanitation is a major SBM’s drives significant reductions in
cause of waterborne diseases like infant mortality rates by averting
diarrhoea, cholera, and typhoid, 60,000-70,000 child deaths annually.
leading to high morbidity and • Research shows that districts with
mortality rates, especially among more than 30% of toilets constructed
children under five. under SBM have seen a reduction of 5.3
• According to a World Health in the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and
Health Impact Organization (WHO) report, poor 6.8 in the Under-five Mortality Rate
sanitation in India caused around 3 (U5MR).
lakh child deaths annually before • The WHO reported 300,000 fewer
SBM was launched. diarrheal deaths in 2019 compared to
2014.
• Women are often forced to defecate
in open fields, putting them at risk • Cases of child wasting are 58% higher
of harassment and assault. in non-Open Defecation Free areas (Bill
• Girls, particularly in rural areas, & Melinda Gates Foundation).
frequently miss school during • With improved access to sanitation,
Impact on
Women and menstruation due to inadequate 93% of women reported feeling safer at
Children sanitation facilities, leading to home (UNICEF).
higher dropout rates.
• Open defecation and improper • As per the UNICEF report, SBM
waste management contribute to helped save the environment as there
environmental degradation. was 12.70 times less likelihood of
• Untreated sewage contaminates groundwater contamination traceable
water bodies, harms marine and to humans in ODF villages.
 Environmental coastal ecosystems, and pollutes
Impact soil and air, further exacerbating
health risks.
• Poor sanitation costs India heavily.
A World Bank study estimated that • As per a UNICEF report, Rs 50,000 was
India lost approximately 6.4 per saved annually by a household in an
cent of its GDP in 2006 due to poor ODF village due to health costs
sanitation, amounting to over USD avoided.
Economic 38 billion annually. • Approximately 1.25 crore people have
Impact • These losses were primarily due to been employed in various roles under
health costs, reduced productivity, SBM (UNICEF).
and lost educational opportunities.

Major Challenges Facing Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)

• Behavioural and Cultural Challenges: Deep-rooted cultural practices including notions of impurity
associated with toilet usage near homes and traditional mindsets are hindering adoption.
• Infrastructure and Maintenance Issues: Many constructed toilets face functionality issues due to poor
construction quality, inadequate water supply, and improper maintenance systems.
o Solid and liquid waste management infrastructure in both rural and urban areas remains
insufficient, with many areas lacking sewage treatment plants and waste processing facilities.
o Only 42.5% of households in rural areas have access to water for use in toilets, leading to higher
rates of non-usage.
• Manual Scavenging: Despite SBM's efforts, manual scavenging remains a critical issue. Sanitation
workers often face hazardous conditions without adequate safety measures or job security
• Improper Faecal Sludge Management: Inadequate infrastructure for safe disposal and management of
faecal sludge poses environmental and health risks.
• Funding: The allocation for the SBM budget has decreased from approximately ₹16,000 crore in 2017-
18 to around ₹7,000 crore in 2024-25. Additionally, the funds allocated for Information, Education, and
Communication (IEC) activities have also seen a decline.
• Lack of Region-Specific Strategy: India’s diverse geography means that solutions effective in one area
may not work in another. Tailored approaches are necessary to address local needs.
• Urban-specific Challenges:
o Rapid urbanization and population growth straining existing sanitation infrastructure.
o Space constraints in dense urban areas for constructing toilets and waste management facilities.
 o Informal settlements and slums facing particular difficulties in accessing sanitation facilities.
• Rural-specific Issues:
o Geographic challenges in remote and hilly areas making infrastructure creation and maintenance
difficult.
o Lower literacy rates affecting awareness and adoption of proper sanitation practices.
o Seasonal migration leading to abandoned or unused toilet facilities.

Way Forward: A SMART Approach for the Future

As Swachh Bharat Mission completed 10 years, its future success depends on adopting a SMART strategy,
focusing on the following pillars:

Conclusion: As India works towards the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047, the Swachh Bharat Mission will
continue to play a critical role in improving public health, empowering women, protecting the
environment, and driving economic growth. It will contribute not only to national development but also to
global progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.