Swachh Bharat Mission: A Game Changer in Public Health and Sanitation

The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) has recently marked its 10th anniversary, an initiative that has left an indelible mark on public health and sanitation in India. Coinciding with the release of a scientific report in the prestigious journal Nature, the study highlights the tremendous impact of the SBM on reducing infant and child mortality rates.

This initiative, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech on August 15, 2014, and officially launched on October 2, 2014, has transformed the sanitation landscape of the country. For the first time, any global head of government publicly committed to eradicating open defecation within a defined time frame.

Swachh Bharat Mission: A Focus on Eliminating Open Defecation

The Swachh Bharat Mission was launched with the ambitious goal of eliminating open defecation by October 2, 2019, coinciding with the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The SBM sought to change the behavior of approximately 550 million Indians, shifting them from the practice of defecating in the open to using the 100 million household toilets constructed under the program.

Beyond just improving sanitation facilities, the success of the SBM had wide-reaching positive effects. Among the most impactful was the improvement in the health and safety of women and girls, who gained dignity and security with access to toilets. According to the Nature report, the SBM saved the lives of between 60,000 to 70,000 infants and children under five annually by preventing waterborne diseases and infections.

Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban: Expanding the Mission's Reach

In addition to rural areas, the SBM's urban counterpart—Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban—has made remarkable progress. This initiative has led to the construction of over 63 lakh household toilets and more than 6.3 lakh public toilets across cities. The mission aims to achieve 100% Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, promote scientific Solid Waste Management (SWM), and drive behavior change through the concept of “Jan Andolan” or people’s movement.

Prime Minister Modi played a pivotal role in mobilizing citizens by engaging directly through multiple platforms, including his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address. He inspired communities to take ownership of the initiative, making it a community and village-led movement. Villages across India took pride in achieving ODF status, often celebrating with a gaurav yatra or pride march, and this success spurred healthy competition between villages, districts, and states.

Phase 1: The World’s Largest Behavioral Change Movement

Phase 1 of the Swachh Bharat Mission (2014-2019) is regarded as the world’s largest behavioral change movement aimed at ending open defecation. This phase focused on awareness campaigns, education, and infrastructure development to achieve its goals. By combining government efforts with community engagement, the mission became a symbol of India’s commitment to improving public health. According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), the improved sanitation under the SBM resulted in 3 lakh fewer diarrheal deaths in 2019 compared to 2014.

Not only did the mission have a direct impact on public health, but it also contributed to economic benefits for families in ODF villages. Families saved an average of INR 50,000 annually on health costs, and 93% of women in these villages reported feeling safer at home due to improved access to sanitation.

Phase 2: Towards Complete Cleanliness (Sampoorn Swachhata)

Building on the success of Phase 1, SBM-G Phase II (2019-2025) was launched with the goal of sustaining ODF status and managing solid and liquid waste. This phase focuses on “Sampoorn Swachhata” or complete cleanliness, which aims to create ODF Plus villages that maintain and enhance sanitation standards. Supported by an investment of INR 1.40 lakh crore, this phase integrates various government schemes to further improve sanitation infrastructure.

As of September 2024, more than 5.87 lakh villages across India have achieved ODF Plus status, with 3.92 lakh villages implementing solid waste management systems and 4.95 lakh villages setting up liquid waste management systems. Additionally, over 11.64 crore household toilets and 2.41 lakh community sanitary complexes have been constructed under this phase, highlighting the government’s commitment to sustainable sanitation practices.

Impact of Swachh Bharat Mission

The scale of impact brought about by SBM is staggering. Over 117 million toilets have been constructed since the mission's inception in 2014, backed by a public investment of INR 1.4 lakh crore. According to analysis, a 10-percentage point increase in district-level access to toilets correlates with a reduction of 0.9 points in the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and 1.1 points in the Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR).

Furthermore, districts with 30% or higher toilet coverage experienced reductions of 5.3 in IMR and 6.8 in U5MR per 1,000 live births. These numbers translate to saving 60,000 to 70,000 infant lives annually, underscoring the SBM's life-saving impact.

Future Initiatives: Fostering a Clean Future

Looking ahead, SBM aims to further institutionalize cleanliness with its new focus on behavior change under the theme “Swabhav Swachhata, Sanskar Swachhata”. The goal is to make cleanliness an integral part of life.

Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal, chaired a high-level meeting on August 30, 2024, to review preparations for the Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) campaign 2024. The campaign, which will run from September 17 to October 2, will mobilize public participation (Jan Bhagidari) and focus on achieving sustainable cleanliness while recognizing the critical contributions of sanitation workers (Safai Mitras).

Conclusion

The Swachh Bharat Mission has proven to be a monumental public health intervention in India, significantly reducing infant and child mortality rates, improving sanitation infrastructure, and fostering a culture of cleanliness. With Phase II well underway, India's journey towards a cleaner, healthier future continues, laying the foundation for long-term public health and environmental sustainability.