Evolution of Swachh Bharat Mission

On the 145th of the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi (October 2, 2014), India saw a movement which was going to be the World’s biggest movement of Sanitation. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan – a nationwide campaign strives on creating awareness about sanitation and also in inducing behavioural changes in people to use Toilets. Since 2014, there were more than 83.8 million toilets built in the rural areas and 50 Lakh toilets built in Urban Regions.

The percentage of households with toilets shoot from 42.8% in 2014 to 88.9% in 2018-19. The World Health Organisation (WHO) lauded India’s efforts of achieving the open defecation free (ODF) Villages in 521 districts all over the country. The organisation also added that just a few years it was a time when Open defecation free was taboo, countries like India made it a first priority and strived hard to make the whole country achieve Sustainable Development Goal Number 6 (One of the 17 goals established by UN in 2015).

On this day, we step into the 149th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who strongly voiced about a lot of issues like sustainable development, agricultural growth and sanitation. As per the Government, with Swachh Bharat Mission, India will become a fully Open Defecation Free country by February 2019.

However, the impracticality of the mission lies in making sure that the people do not go back to their old practices and ensuring the use of the built toilets. The awareness made through the various media will definitely make sure that people use the toilets.