Swachh Bharat Missions: Types, objectives, fundings, initiatives within them, achievements, limitations and future goals.

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Context

The Swachh Survekshan 2024–25 results were announced yesterday in New Delhi. Indore retained the top rank for the 8th consecutive time, followed by Surat and Navi Mumbai in the newly formed “Super Swachh League”.

Additionally, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, and Lucknow emerged as frontrunners in the “New Clean Cities” category, while President Murmu honoured ULBs for excellence in areas like Ganga towns, dumpsite remediation, and worker safety

Types

Launched on October 2, 2014, the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) was envisioned to realize Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of a clean India. The mission is divided into two sub-missions:

  • Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) – focuses on rural sanitation.

  • Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) – focuses on solid waste management, sewerage, and sanitation in urban areas.

The second phase, SBM 2.0, was launched in 2021, aiming to move from ODF (Open Defecation Free) to ODF+ and ODF++ status, incorporating waste management as a core focus.

Objectives:

  • Eliminate open defecation.

  • Promote scientific solid and liquid waste management.

  • Bring behavioural change through awareness.

  • Ensure sanitation for all, especially for women and marginalised groups.

  • Encourage community-led sanitation initiatives.

Funding Mechanism:

The mission is jointly funded by the Centre and State Governments, with urban components receiving additional support from institutions like World Bank, ADB, and CSR partnerships.

  • SBM-Gramin Phase II has a total outlay of ₹1.41 lakh crore.

  • SBM-Urban Phase II has a central outlay of ₹1.41 lakh crore over 5 years (2021–26).

Key Initiatives within SBM:

  • ODF+, ODF++ certification: Measures village and city sanitation standards beyond toilet construction.

  • GOBAR-Dhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources – Dhan): Promotes bio-gas and organic waste management in rural areas.

  • Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge: Focused on mechanising septic tank cleaning and ensuring worker safety.

  • Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign: A nationwide behavioural change initiative.

  • Swachh Survekshan: Annual cleanliness survey ranking cities to foster competition.

Achievements:

  • Over 11 crore household toilets constructed since 2014.

  • All states declared ODF by 2019 (declaration status varies in monitoring).

  • Significant decline in diarrhoeal diseases and school dropout rates among girls.

  • Urban waste processing increased from 18% in 2014 to over 70% in 2023.

  • 100% door-to-door waste collection achieved in over 85,000 wards.

  • Lakhs of sanitation workers trained and provided with PPE kits.

Limitations and Challenges:

  • Sustainability of ODF status: Some areas have seen reversals.

  • Manual scavenging still persists in parts despite being banned.

  • Behavioural change is uneven, especially in rural pockets.

  • Waste segregation and scientific processing remain inadequate in some cities.

  • Lack of capacity in local bodies to manage solid waste scientifically.

Future Goals and Prospects:

  • Achieve 100% scientific waste processing in all cities.

  • Ensure universal access to functional toilets (school and household).

  • Expand digital monitoring and use of AI and IoT in sanitation tracking.

  • Make sanitation work dignified and mechanised to eliminate manual scavenging.

  • Strengthen partnerships with private and community players for sustainability.

Conclusion

The Swachh Bharat Mission has significantly transformed sanitation in India, but the journey toward total cleanliness and waste sustainability continues. With greater community engagement, digital innovations, and strong political will, the mission holds the potential to redefine India’s public health and environmental landscape.

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