The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) is a governmental initiative launched in 2014 with the primary aim of eradicating open defecation and enhancing waste management practices throughout India. This ambitious program includes efforts to construct toilets and promote widespread sanitation awareness.
The SBM's goals are closely linked to India's performance in the Environment Performance Index (EPI). The mission targets improvements in sanitation and waste management—key factors evaluated in the EPI. Nevertheless, despite these efforts, India's low EPI ranking highlights ongoing challenges in environmental health and ecosystem vitality.
While the SBM has made strides, it has not been without its critics. Some argue that the mission inadvertently perpetuates traditional caste-based roles within sanitation sectors, despite its goal of universal sanitation responsibility. Common criticisms include the poor construction quality of toilets, inadequate sanitation access in slum areas, and insufficient waste treatment facilities.
Has the SBM succeeded in making India open defecation-free? While the government has declared success, independent assessments, such as a 2020 report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, have identified several shortcomings, including substandard toilet construction and persistent open defecation issues.
One of the SBM's objectives was to limit manual sanitation tasks through increased mechanization. However, marginalized communities, notably Dalits, remain predominantly employed in these sectors, often under private contractors. This situation continues to reinforce caste-based discrimination within the industry.
City governments encounter significant challenges under the SBM, particularly in managing the financial and logistical aspects of waste management. The high cost of new technologies and equipment adds to these difficulties. Furthermore, the reliance on private contractors has raised concerns about the privatization of public health services.
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