Swachh Bharat Abhiyan - A Work In Progress

Among the most discussed public interventions anywhere, India’s Swachh Bharat Mission takes the piece of cake. There is a lot to celebrate in our march towards a Swachh Bharat, yet we need to rededicate ourselves to the unfinished task in some areas to bring a sustainable and lasting solution.

In areas of public health, sanitation, nutrition, and safety, the nation has achieved transformative changes in a short span of six years.

Achievement of ODF status is a key measure of the success of the Swachh Bharat Mission. From a situation where 626 million people practiced open defecation (as per a 2012 WHO factsheet), we have achieved 100 percent Open Defecation Free (ODF) status. While the building of a record 100 million rural toilets created the momentum, sharp and sustained awareness building contributed majorly to the mission.

While the ODF is a noteworthy success, cleaning up water bodies is a work in progress. The Clean Ganga mission to rejuvenate the iconic, most majestic, and highly revered water body in our country, is at the forefront of this effort. Despite the efforts by local bodies, NGOs, and citizens to make the mighty Ganga clean again, a combination of factors has made this a challenge. Practices of a large number of visitors and pilgrims, dumping of industrial waste, and discharge of improperly treated sewage are major concerns. While appropriate sewage treatment facilities are being set up, awareness among the common man and strict monitoring so that violations are detected and punished is the need of the hour.

Another area of effort concerns wastes management and disposal. Though we have strict rules in the form of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and awareness-building campaigns, waste segregation has been limited. This prevents composting and recycling thereby increasing landfill volumes and the resulting environmental degradation. The plastic ban initiative has been rolled back due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as the preference for use-and-throw cups, plates, spoons, and forks increased.

Textile/clothing waste could be an emerging threat as big as plastic. Adoption of a ‘Circular Economy’ (repair, reuse, remanufacture and recycle) will not only limit the need for precious non-renewable raw material/resources but also cut down on the generation of waste.

The Clean India Mission has been addressing several aspects to achieve breakthroughs in liveability and hygiene, but there is still a long way to go.