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Swachh Bharat Mission successfully Transforms Bharat's Sanitation Landscape

The ambitious flagship program of Modi Government Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 2, 2014, represents a paradigm shift towards achieving universal sanitation coverage in Bharat. This project was launched with the ambitious goal of making Bharat "open-defecation free" (ODF) by the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in 2019.

As per the new report released by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, this Swachh Bharat Mission initiative has since revolutionised the country’s approach to hygiene and sanitation. The mission aimed to improve the health and well-being of millions of Bharatns by constructing over 100 million toilets in rural Bharat and has become a global model for community-driven sanitation reform.

Let’s have a look about this mission and its achievements

Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen: Phase I (2014–2019)

The Swachh Bharat Mission–Grameen (SBM-G) Phase I initiative emphasized nationwide participation in sanitation efforts. This phase marked the largest behavioural change movement, aiming to end open defecation through awareness campaigns, education, and infrastructure development. By combining governmental efforts and community engagement, SBM-G Phase I became a symbol of Bharat's commitment to public health and cleanliness. The construction of toilets and sanitation infrastructure not only improved hygiene but also significantly impacted health, especially in rural areas where sanitation facilities were lacking.

Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen: Phase II (2019–2025)

Building on the success of Phase I, SBM-G Phase II was launched to sustain the ODF status and manage solid and liquid waste by 2025. This phase focuses on "Sampoorn Swachhata", or complete cleanliness, which includes creating ODF Plus villages that maintain and improve sanitation standards. Supported by an investment of Rs. 1.40 lakh crores, this phase further integrates various government schemes to enhance sanitation infrastructure.

According to government of Bharat as of September 2024, over 5.87 lakh villages across Bharat have achieved ODF Plus status, with over 3.92 lakh villages implementing solid waste management systems and over 4.95 lakh villages establishing liquid waste management systems. This phase also saw the construction of over 11.64 crore household toilets and more than 2.41 lakh community sanitary complexes, underscoring the government’s dedication to sustainable sanitation practices.

Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban

The Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) (SBM-U), launched on October 2, 2014, has significantly transformed urban sanitation and cleanliness in Bharat. Focused on achieving 100% Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, ensuring scientific Solid Waste Management (SWM), and driving behaviour change through a “Jan Andolan” (people’s movement), SBM-U has had a far-reaching impact.

As of September 2024, the initiative has seen the construction of over 63 lakh household toilets and more than 6.3 lakh public toilets. Through robust third-party protocols and widespread public engagement, SBM-U has brought sanitation to the forefront of Bharat's urban development agenda, making cities cleaner and healthier.

Key Benefits of Swachh Bharat Mission

A recent study published in Nature, the world’s leading multi-disciplinary science journal, by leading experts reveals that the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), Bharat’s ambitious national sanitation program, has contributed significantly to reducing infant and under-five mortality rates across the country – averting 60,000 – 70,000 infant lives annually. The study, which utilized a quasi-experimental design, provides robust evidence linking increased toilet access under SBM with improved child survival outcomes. Launched in 2014, SBM is one of the largest national behavioural change sanitation programs in the world, aimed at eliminating open defecation by providing household toilets across the country. This unique programme has now metamorphised into ensuring Sampoorna Swachhata in the country.

 

Study Overview and Key Findings:

The study analysed data from 35 Bharat’s states and 640 districts spanning a decade (2011-2020), focusing on infant mortality rate (IMR) and under-five mortality rate (U5MR) per thousand live births as the primary outcomes. The study employed two-way fixed effects regression models to control for sociodemographic, wealth, and healthcare-related confounders at the district level, ensuring a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between sanitation improvements and child mortality.

Key findings include:

❖ Inverse Association Between Toilet Access and Child Mortality

Historically, toilet access and child mortality have shown a robust inverse association in Bharat.

❖ Scale of Impact

Toilets constructed increased dramatically across Bharat following the implementation of the SBM in 2014. Over 117 million toilets have been constructed since 2014 with a public investment of over 1.4 lakh crore. Results from the analyses suggest that for every 10-percentage point increase in district level access following SBM corresponds with a reduction in district level IMR by 0.9 points and U5MR by 1.1 points on average. There is further evidence of a threshold effect wherein the district-level toilet coverage of 30% (and above) corresponds with substantial reductions in infant and child mortality. The study revealed that districts with over 30% toilet coverage under SBM experienced reductions of 5.3 in the IMR and 6.8 in the U5MR per thousand live births. In absolute numbers, this co-efficient would scale to 60,000 – 70,000 infant lives annually. This finding was supported by robustness checks and falsification tests, confirming the validity of the results.

❖ SBM’s Unique Approach

SBM's approach of combining toilet construction with substantial investments in IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) and community engagement represents a marked departure from prior sanitation efforts in Bharat, which often lacked such comprehensive strategies. The study provides novel evidence of reductions in infant and child mortality following SBM's comprehensive national sanitation program, indicating its transformative role in improving public health outcomes. The study also highlights that expanded access to toilets under SBM likely reduced exposure to faecal-oral pathogens, contributing to lower incidences of diarrhea and malnutrition, which are key drivers of child mortality in Bharat.

The Swachh Bharat Mission stands as a transformative initiative that has revolutionized sanitation in Bharat, delivering widespread public health benefits. By providing millions of toilets, reducing infant mortality, and improving the safety of women, the mission has profoundly impacted the lives of people of Bharat. It continues to serve as one of the largest and most successful public health initiatives in the world, exemplifying how sanitation improvements can lead to a healthier, safer, and more prosperous society.

- Data Source: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of Bharat

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