Open Defecation India, Swachh Bharat Mission

Open Defecation India, Swachh Bharat Mission

Open Defecation Idea

India accounts for 59 % of total people in the world who practice open defecation, & 90 % of people in south Asia. Swachhta Status Report in 2015, more than half of the rural population still defecates in open.

Problems associated with open defecation 

• Malnutrition, Diarrhoea and worm infection
• Open defecation puts at risk the dignity of women – Women feel constrained to relieve themselves only under the cover of dark – make them more prone to physical attacks
• Cripples national development – workers produce less, live shorter lives, save and invest less

Challenges faced

• Traditional practice – It is deeply ingrained in society
• Sanitation is not a socially acceptable topic, and hence, people do not discuss it
• Many of the poorest people do not prioritize toilets; many are living in rented homes without toilets
• Society does not view lack of a toilet as unacceptable. Building & owning a toilet is not perceived an aspiration
• Construction of toilets is still seen as the government’s responsibility

The challenge is to motivate people to see a toilet as fundamental to their social standing, status and well-being. The success of Swachh Bharat Mission is dependent upon behavioral changes and thus there is a need to engage with the community and facilitate the efforts by the people and involved organisations.

Swachh Bharat Mission 

It was launched on 2 October 2014 to make India clean and open defecation free by 2019, Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary. It has slowly developed into a people’s movement with greater awareness and participation and increased interdepartmental coordination.

• Ministry for Drinking Water and Sanitation is looking at the rural part of the scheme
• Urban Development Ministry is implementing the programme in urban areas

Efforts by the government

• Cash incentive for building toilets are being provided by the government
• Creating solid waste management facilities
• Efforts and focus on bringing behavioral changes by –

• Roping in celebrities to promote
• City surveys to instill a sense of competition among cities – Swachh Survekshan
• Using technology like Hike Messenger Group which has local administrators from the respective states showcasing their achievements

• Creation of a portal by the ministry where all the information is available about the project
• Sanitation Messengers (Swachchata Doot)- village level motivators

✅ 10 Key Points on Open Defecation in India & Swachh Bharat Mission:

1. Open Defecation in India:

   • India accounted for the highest number of people practicing open defecation globally, especially in rural areas.

2. Consequences of Open Defecation:

   • Causes water contamination, spread of diseases like diarrhea, typhoid, cholera, stunting in children, and safety issues for women.

3. Launch of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM):

   • Launched in 2014 to make India Open Defecation Free (ODF) by October 2, 2019, marking Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary.

4. Objectives of SBM:

   • Construction of toilets, promoting hygiene, solid and liquid waste management, and behavior change.

5. Achievements of SBM:

   • Over 110 million toilets built; most villages, districts, and states declared ODF.

6. Behavior Change as Key Challenge:

   • Infrastructure creation alone was insufficient; efforts focused on community-led awareness and behavior transformation.

7. Swachh Bharat Mission Urban & Rural:

   • SBM-Gramin focused on rural areas.

   • SBM-Urban targeted urban cleanliness, waste management, and public sanitation.

8. SBM 2.0 (2021-2026):

   • Aims to sustain ODF status, improve solid and liquid waste management, and ensure sustainable sanitation systems.

9. Criticism & Gaps:

   • Reports of toilet non-usage, lack of water in toilets, and false ODF claims in some areas.

10. Way Forward:

    • Ensure sustainability of ODF status, robust monitoring, capacity building, and integrating sanitation with health, education, and water conservation programs.

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