Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is a campaign launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 2nd October 2014, from Rajghat, New Delhi. This campaign was initiated to meet the target of achieving a Clean India by 2nd October 2019, on the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. This mission is an effort to improve the sanitation and cleanliness in India.
Cleanliness not only makes our surroundings look better but also makes us healthier. Swachh Bharat mission aims at making our country clean and hygienic. It is based on four pillars: (i) Eradicating open defecation, (ii) Converting insanitary toilets to pour-flush toilets, (iii) Eradicating manual scavenging, (iv) Solid waste management.

The mission has adopted a multi-pronged approach to attain its goals which includes behavioural change through mass media campaigns and creation of awareness amongst people, construction of individual, cluster and community toilets, door-to-door collection and processing of solid and liquid waste, proper maintenance of these facilities, decentralization of urban local bodies etc. It also focuses on bringing other ministries and departments into the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to ensure their participation in the mission.

The flagship programme of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, called the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban, is being implemented by the Ministry of Urban Development. The aim of this mission is to eliminate open defecation and achieve 100% sanitation coverage in selected cities of India by 2019. Under this scheme, financial help is provided for constructing toilets in urban areas.

The Swachh Bharat Mission also focuses on improving solid waste management and civic sense. This mission is being implemented in the states through urban local bodies (ULBs).Additionally, the Swachh Bharat Mission is also focused on creating awareness amongst urban citizens about hygiene and sanitation through various campaigns and activities. Given the importance of this mission, the central and state governments have been making a concerted effort to make Swachh Bharat Abhiyan a grand success.