11.7 Crore household toilets constructed under Swachh Bharat Mission
To accelerate the efforts to achieve universal sanitation coverage and to put the focus on sanitation, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) on October 2nd, 2014, the 145th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The ambitious programme aims to make the streets, roads and infrastructure across the country clean by October 02nd, 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation. It is India’s biggest ever cleanliness drive.
The relevance of the Swachh Bharat Mission
Swachh Bharat Mission is very important considering the condition of sanitation, cleanliness and hygiene in India. Millions of deaths in India have been reported in previous years due to diseases resulting from poor sanitation and hygiene. India is home to the world’s second largest population. This mission is the biggest social initiative taken up by the Government of India to enhance hygiene standards. The movement has helped in cleaning up the streets, roads, and infrastructure in many cities, small towns, and rural areas of India. High-levels of advocacy have helped in reducing open defecation and promoting building toilets in homes and community owned toilets. This has risen the hygiene and sanitation standards in the country.
Involvement of Eminent Personalities
Launching the mission, Prime Minster nominated nine famous personalities for the campaign. They joined the campaign and nominated nine more people. Thus, the momentum had been built with people from all walks of life joining it. Eminent personalities such as Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Kailash Kher, Priyanka Chopra and leading sportspersons like Sachin Tendulkar, Sania Mirza, Saina Nehwal and Mary Kom were part of the SBM initiative.
How far we have come
As per the government data, February 01, 2023, in Swachh Bharat Mission(Gramin) more than 190858 villages have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus and under Swachh Bharat Mission 11.7 crore household toilets have been constructed in the country since 2014. As far as Punjab is concernd, 832 villages declared as ODF Plus and 11,522 community toilets have been constructed in the state under SBM(Urban).
Conclusion
Since 2014, we have achieved many milestones towards cleanliness. Although, the Prime Minister’s personal concern behind Swachh Bharat Mission, and the government’s best efforts have been made awareness about SBM across the country but what matters the most is the behavioural change of its citizen which is very important to keep our country clean. There is a need of an attitudinal change on part of all citizens to fulfil the mission of a clean India in its true spirit.
Gurkamal Singh
(Village Aujla, Kapurthala,144601)
Mobile : 7009110721