Context: The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), launched in 2014, has been a transformative sanitation program that aimed to eliminate open defecation and improve access to clean sanitation across India. This editorial discusses the long-term benefits of SBM, its role in achieving India’s sanitation goals, and the importance of sustained intervention to maintain these gains.
Relevance: General Studies Paper II – Governance and Paper III – Public Health, Sanitation.
Mains Question: Evaluate the impact of the Swachh Bharat Mission in improving public health and sanitation in India. How can sustained intervention and policy expansion ensure that sanitation goals are achieved in the long term?
- Overview of Swachh Bharat Mission:
- SBM’s Achievements: Since its launch in October 2014, the Swachh Bharat Mission has built around 11 crore household latrines, making significant progress in reducing open defecation. According to a recent study published in the journal Nature, SBM has averted 60,000-70,000 infant deaths annually by reducing waterborne diseases and improving sanitation.
- Open Defecation-Free Status: Open defecation leads to contamination of water sources and the spread of diseases like diarrhoea, which disproportionately affect children. The mission’s success in reducing open defecation has contributed to improved public health outcomes, as noted in the study.
- Impact on Infant Mortality and Child Health:
- The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data shows a decline in households without access to toilets, from 55% in 2005-06 to 39% in 2015-16. This percentage dropped further to 19% in the 2019-21 survey, driven by the large-scale construction of toilets under SBM.
- The reduction in open defecation has had a direct impact on reducing diseases that lead to infant and child mortality. By improving sanitation access, SBM has contributed to lowering infant mortality rates, particularly in rural areas where access to clean water and sanitation is often limited.
- Addressing Malnutrition and Stunting:
- The Nature study highlighted the link between improved sanitation and reductions in stunting (low height-for-age) and wasting (low weight-for-height) in children. Poor sanitation and contaminated water contribute to malnutrition and recurrent infections, which hamper children’s growth.
- By addressing these issues, SBM has the potential to positively affect nutrition outcomes. The mission’s success could be further enhanced through integration with programs like the Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to provide clean drinking water to all households by 2024.
- Expansion and Challenges:
- While SBM has made significant strides in building sanitation infrastructure, there are still challenges in maintaining the status of open defecation-free (ODF) areas. Questions have been raised about the sustainability of the ODF status and the need for continuous behavior change campaigns to ensure that people continue using the toilets.
- The Modi government has implemented complementary schemes like Jan Dhan and digital payments, which have helped facilitate financial inclusion and improved access to services. However, other programs like the Soil Health Card and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana have seen mixed success, demonstrating that sustained intervention is key to long-term program success.
- The Role of Technology and Digital Payments:
- Digital payments and financial inclusion have played a critical role in the success of SBM. By providing subsidies and direct benefits to households through platforms like UPI, the government has ensured that households receive the financial support needed to build and maintain toilets.
- Additionally, technology has been leveraged to track toilet construction and usage, ensuring accountability and transparency in the program’s implementation.
- The Road Ahead:
- The success of SBM shows that sustained intervention is necessary to achieve large-scale social change. The expansion of sanitation programs, combined with access to clean water and continued health and hygiene education, will be crucial in ensuring that the gains of SBM are maintained.
- As India aims to achieve universal sanitation and clean water access by 2024, integrating SBM with other programs like Jal Jeevan Mission and focusing on community-based behavior change campaigns will be essential.
Conclusion: The Swachh Bharat Mission has been a transformative initiative that has significantly improved public health and sanitation in India. By building millions of household toilets and promoting the importance of sanitation, SBM has averted thousands of infant deaths and reduced the spread of waterborne diseases. However, sustained efforts are needed to ensure that India remains open defecation-free, with continued investments in sanitation infrastructure, clean water access, and public health education. The success of SBM serves as a model for future government initiatives, demonstrating that sustained intervention can drive long-term change and improve the lives of millions.
