Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) | General Awareness for SSC CGL PDF Download

Introduction

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA), launched on October 2, 2014, by the Government of India, is a nationwide campaign aimed at achieving a clean and open defecation-free (ODF) India. Initiated on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the mission seeks to promote cleanliness, hygiene, and sanitation across urban and rural areas. It is one of the largest cleanliness drives in the world, focusing on eliminating open defecation, improving solid waste management, and fostering behavioral change through awareness campaigns. The mission is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti (for rural areas) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (for urban areas).

Objectives of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

1. Eliminate Open Defecation: Achieve Open Defecation Free (ODF) status by constructing toilets and promoting their use.
2. Improve Sanitation and Hygiene: Ensure access to safe sanitation facilities and clean drinking water.
3. Effective Waste Management: Develop systems for solid and liquid waste management in rural and urban areas.
4. Behavioral Change: Promote cleanliness and hygiene through awareness campaigns and community participation.
5. Enhance Quality of Life: Improve public health and environmental sustainability through better sanitation practices.
6. Sustainable Development: Align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and support inclusive growth.

Key Features of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

The mission is divided into two components: Swachh Bharat Mission - Gramin (SBM-G) for rural areas and Swachh Bharat Mission - Urban (SBM-U) for urban areas.

Swachh Bharat Mission - Gramin (SBM-G)

1. Focus: Eliminate open defecation and improve rural sanitation.
2. Key Interventions:
   • Construction of Individual Household Latrines (IHHL) with financial assistance of ₹12,000 per toilet (shared by Central and State Governments).
   • Community Sanitary Complexes (CSCs) for public use in villages.
   • Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) projects for waste disposal and treatment.
   • Awareness campaigns to promote toilet usage and hygiene practices.
3. Incentives:
   • Financial support for BPL households, SC/ST, small/marginal farmers, and other eligible groups.
   • Convergence with MGNREGA for labor and PMAY for housing-linked toilets.
4. ODF Sustainability: Focus on ODF Plus, which includes sustaining ODF status and improving waste management.

Swachh Bharat Mission - Urban (SBM-U)

1. Focus: Improve sanitation and waste management in urban areas.
2. Key Interventions:
   • Construction of household and community toilets to eliminate open defecation.
   • Public toilets and urinals in urban public spaces.
   • Solid waste management systems, including segregation, collection, and processing.
   • Modernization of waste treatment facilities (e.g., composting, waste-to-energy plants).
   • Awareness campaigns to promote cleanliness and reduce littering.
3. Funding:
   • Central Government provides financial assistance to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
   • States and ULBs contribute to infrastructure and operational costs.

Other Key Features

Financial Support:

• Central and State Governments share costs (75:25 for SBM-G, 60:40 for SBM-U; 90:10 for North-Eastern states).
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds and public-private partnerships (PPPs) for infrastructure.

Behavioral Change Campaigns:

• Nationwide campaigns like “Swachhata Hi Seva” and “Gandagi Mukt Bharat” to promote cleanliness.
• Use of media, celebrities, and community leaders to drive awareness.
• Swachhata Pledge and Swachh Survekshan (cleanliness surveys) to engage citizens.

Community Participation:

• Involvement of Gram Panchayats, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and NGOs in rural areas.
• Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and ULBs in urban areas.
• Swachhagrahis (grassroots motivators) to promote toilet usage and hygiene.

Technology Integration:

• Swachh Bharat Mission app for citizen feedback and reporting sanitation issues.
• Geo-tagging of toilets and waste management facilities for monitoring.
• Online dashboards for tracking progress and ODF status.

Swachh Survekshan:

• Annual cleanliness survey to rank cities, towns, and states based on sanitation and waste management.
• Encourages competition and accountability among ULBs and states.

Implementation Structure

Central Level:

• Ministry of Jal Shakti oversees SBM-G, focusing on rural sanitation.
• Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs oversees SBM-U, focusing on urban sanitation.
• National Mission Directorate coordinates policy, funding, and monitoring.

State Level:

• State Swachh Bharat Mission Directorates develop state-specific plans.
• Coordinate with districts and ULBs for implementation and monitoring.

District Level:

• District Collectors lead District Swachh Bharat Committees to implement and monitor activities.
• Facilitate toilet construction, waste management, and awareness campaigns.

Village/Urban Local Body Level:

• Gram Panchayats and ULBs execute projects, monitor toilet usage, and manage waste.
• Swachhagrahis and community volunteers drive grassroots engagement.

Private Sector and NGOs:

• CSR contributions from corporates for toilet construction and waste management.
• NGOs support awareness campaigns and community mobilization.

Key Achievements of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

Open Defecation Free (ODF) Status:

• India declared ODF on October 2, 2019, with over 11 crore household toilets constructed under SBM-G.
• All villages, districts, and states achieved ODF status, verified through independent surveys.

Toilet Construction:

• Over 12 crore toilets built (11 crore under SBM-G, 1 crore under SBM-U) as of 2023.
• Community Sanitary Complexes established in thousands of villages.

Improved Sanitation Coverage:

• Rural sanitation coverage increased from 39% (2014) to 100% (2019) as per SBM-G data.
• Urban sanitation coverage improved significantly with public and community toilets.

Waste Management:

• Over 85% of urban wards have door-to-door waste collection.
• Waste processing capacity increased with composting, recycling, and waste-to-energy plants.
• Over 6 lakh villages have Solid and Liquid Waste Management systems under SBM-G.

Behavioral Change:

• Significant shift in public attitudes toward cleanliness and toilet usage.
• Swachh Survekshan engaged millions of citizens, with cities like Indore consistently ranked as India’s cleanest.

Health and Environmental Impact:

• Reduced waterborne diseases like diarrhea and cholera due to improved sanitation.
• Decreased environmental pollution from open defecation and improper waste disposal.

Challenges of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

Sustainability of ODF Status:

• Ensuring sustained toilet usage and maintenance in rural areas.
• Behavioral resistance to toilet use in some communities due to cultural practices.

Waste Management Gaps:

• Inadequate infrastructure for solid waste processing in smaller towns and rural areas.
• Low awareness about waste segregation and recycling.

Urban Sanitation Challenges:

• Overburdened urban waste management systems due to rapid urbanization.
• Slum areas still lack adequate sanitation facilities.

Funding and Maintenance:

• Limited funding for sustaining ODF status and waste management infrastructure.
• Maintenance of toilets and waste facilities remains a challenge in some areas.

Awareness and Behavioral Change:

• Persistent myths and lack of awareness about hygiene in remote and tribal areas.
• Need for continuous campaigns to sustain behavioral change.

Regional Disparities:

• Uneven progress across states, with North-Eastern and hilly regions lagging in infrastructure.

Recent Developments and Initiatives

SBM Phase II (2020-2025):

• Focus on ODF Plus, ensuring sustainability of ODF status and comprehensive waste management.
• Targets include greywater management, fecal sludge management, and plastic waste segregation.
• Budget of ₹1.41 lakh crore allocated for SBM-G Phase II.

Swachh Survekshan:

• Expanded to include rural areas (Swachh Survekshan Gramin) alongside urban surveys.
• 2023 survey ranked thousands of cities and villages, promoting competitive cleanliness.

GOBARdhan Scheme:

• Launched under SBM-G to promote bio-gas and organic manure from cattle dung and organic waste.
• Supports rural sanitation and renewable energy.

Digital Tools:

• Swachh Bharat app for reporting cleanliness issues and tracking progress.
• Geo-tagging of toilets and waste facilities for transparency.

Convergence with Other Schemes:

• Integration with MGNREGA for toilet construction labor.
• Linkages with PMAY for household toilets and Jal Jeevan Mission for water supply.
• Collaboration with Ujjwala Yojana for clean cooking fuel to complement sanitation efforts.

Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign:

• Annual campaign to mobilize communities for cleanliness drives and awareness.
• Focus on plastic waste reduction and community-led sanitation initiatives.

Impact of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

Health Impact:

• Reduced incidence of waterborne diseases and improved public health outcomes.
• Lowered child mortality rates due to better sanitation and hygiene.

Social Impact:

• Empowered women and girls by providing safe and dignified sanitation facilities.
• Reduced safety risks associated with open defecation, especially in rural areas.

Environmental Impact:

• Decreased water and soil pollution from open defecation.
• Promoted sustainable waste management practices, reducing landfill dependency.

Economic Impact:

• Boosted tourism and urban aesthetics through cleaner cities.
• Created jobs in sanitation infrastructure and waste management sectors.

Behavioral Impact:

• Fostered a culture of cleanliness and civic responsibility.
• Increased community participation in sanitation initiatives.

Monitoring and Evaluation

SBM Dashboard:

• Tracks toilet construction, ODF status, and waste management progress in real-time.
• Monitors state and district-level performance.

Swachh Survekshan:

• Annual surveys assess cleanliness, sanitation, and citizen feedback.
• Independent verification of ODF status and waste management systems.

Third-Party Audits:

• Independent agencies verify ODF claims and sanitation infrastructure quality.
• Evaluations by NITI Aayog and other bodies on health and environmental impacts.

Grievance Redressal:

• Swachh Bharat app and toll-free helplines (1969) for reporting issues.
• District-level grievance committees for quick resolution.

Conclusion

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has been a transformative initiative in achieving a cleaner and healthier India. By eliminating open defecation, constructing millions of toilets, and improving waste management, the mission has significantly enhanced public health, environmental sustainability, and quality of life. Its focus on behavioral change, community participation, and convergence with other schemes has made it a global model for sanitation programs. Despite challenges like sustaining ODF status and addressing waste management gaps, SBM Phase II and innovative campaigns continue to drive India toward a cleaner, greener, and more inclusive future.