Swachh Bharat Abhiyan — Hygiene In Times Of A Pandemic-COVID-19 Edition!
The world has come to a halt ever since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Nearly 17 million people got infected, half a million people died and the good news is approximately 1 million people recovered. The affected country’s economy shattered like anything. The people from the Medical sector, officials from the health sector, media, and the government has worked a day in and out to fight against this pandemic. Now people know how to live with. As long as the pandemic exists, our legends from the health sector, officials from media, police, etc will keep on fighting. Unless the war is outrun, the human race will not quit.
Even though Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) had built millions of household and public toilets and latrines in order to make India free from open defecation and made cleanliness a priority for the government, it could hardly get the public to adopt hygiene as a habit. In contrast to this pandemic, COVID 19 has bought a drastic change among the people in the world. Under the Swachh Bharat mission, the central and state government have spent over 69,500 crores in the span of 4 years.
The government permitted the next level of the program with a total outlay of Rs 1,40,881 crore till 2024–25 during the initial days of the Covid-19 outbreak. The outbreak of the COVID -19 pandemic has taught us a lot. Despite the economic downfall it has helped achieve some SBM goals in the following manner.
Even after building personal toilets and latrines, people did not follow the protocols provided by the government because we all know old habits die hard. Nearly 4000 crores have been invested in awareness, education, and communication to promote personal hygiene. But ever since the outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic, a drastic habitual change happened, as people began to seek ways to avoid getting infected by maintaining basic hygiene and social distancing.
There used to be a time when people didn’t even bother to wash their hands before having their meals or taking bath regularly. But now almost everyone in this world wears a mask throughout a day when they are out, uses a hand wash or a sanitizer multiple times a day and takes bath regularly. All thanks to pharma, liquor, and paint companies who have launched a range of hygiene products such as hand washes, sanitizers, female hygiene products, face masks, and surface sanitizers to cater to a rapid demand outpouring. Even the Cab services provide sanitization and cleaning service to their customers. For example, a person before sitting in a cab, the driver sprays the sanitizer on the customer’s hand and also on the seats to maintain proper hygiene.
The need for social distancing and personal hygiene sure to bring in a lot of change in how India approached hygiene in their day-to-day life, from eating at the roadside vendor to getting a haircut. From the crowded public transports to standing in the queue, the country will witness permanent shifts in habits, and all for the good!
