SWACHH BHARAT ABHIYAN

An Initiative for Clean India

A Group Report By :
 Satvik Raj (2501086)
 Aditya Narayan (2501087)
 M. Naga Satyamanikanta (2501088)
 Ramparsad (2501089)
 Anshuman Srivastava (2501090)

Summary :
Cleanliness is both a physical necessity and a moral duty. Citizen participation, personal
responsibility, and value-driven awareness ensure long-term impact. Through collective effort,
technology integration, education, and ethical motivation, SBM ensures a cleaner, healthier, and
self-reliant India, setting a global benchmark for sanitation and public health initiatives.
 SWACHH BHARAT MISSION

Introduction
 The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) is one Of the most
transformative initiatives in the history of public health and civic
governance in India. Launched on 2nd October 2014 by the
Government of India, it reflects a vision of a cleaner, healthier, and
more sustainable nation. At its core, the campaign aims to eliminate
open defecation, improve solid waste management, and promote civic
responsibility among citizens.

 The mission's objectives are multi-dimensional. Beyond infrastructure

development, such as constructing toilets or waste-processing facilities,
the campaign emphasizes behavioral change, moral responsibility, and
collective action. Its success relies on the active participation of
individuals, communities, and institutions working together towards a
shared vision of sanitation and hygiene.

 Between 2014 and 2019, India witnessed the construction of over 10.5
crore toilets, achieving 100% Open Defecation Free (ODF) status in
rural areas (Source: DDWS 2019). This was not only an infrastructural
achievement but also a profound shift in societal mindset,
demonstrating how effective governance coupled with citizen
participation can produce tangible public health benefits.

 The mission aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),

especially SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation. By linking hygiene with
dignity, health, and economic growth, Swachh Bharat positions
cleanliness as a pillar of nation-building, reflecting the country's
commitment to sustainable and equitable development.
 Swachhta Hi Seva — Cleanliness as Service

The principle of "Swachhta Hi Seva", translating to

"Cleanliness is Service", emphasizes that maintaining
personal hygiene, community sanitation, and
environmental cleanliness is a form of patriotic duty and
moral responsibility. Each citizen becomes a 'sevak'—a
servant of the nation—whose individual actions contribute
to collective societal transformation.
The campaign focuses on three pillars:
1. Personal Hygiene: Encouraging handwashing, bathing,
and other hygiene practices to prevent disease.
2. Environmental Hygiene: Proper disposal of waste,
segregation at source, recycling, and maintaining public
spaces.
3. Civic Responsibility. Active engagement in community
cleanliness drives, awareness programs, and adherence
to sanitation standards.
By embedding these practices, Swachh Bharat not only
reduces disease prevalence but also strengthens community
dignity, eco-consciousness, and sustainable waste
management.
 Our Contribution
Active grassroots participation is crucial to
achieving SBM's goals. Our team's
involvement included cleanliness drives,
awareness campaigns, and monitoring efforts.
1. Cleanliness Drives
 Cleaning college pathways and
public spaces ensured a safer, hygienic
environment.
 Removal of waste such as plastic wrappers, dry
leaves, and Other litter prevented vector-borne
diseases and promoted environmental
sustainability. Visible efforts motivated local
residents to adopt similar practices, creating a
multiplier effect.
2. Awareness Campaigns
• Posters and banners in residential areas educated
citizens on proper hygiene practices and waste
segregation.
• Engaging directly with communities, our team
conducted door-to-door awareness campaigns,
emphasizing the importance of handwashing and safe
sanitation practices.
• Leveraging social media and local bulletin boards helped
disseminate information on upcoming cleanliness drives,
encouraging active participation.
 Conceptual Dimension

SBM is not merely a campaign; it is a conceptual framework

redefining cleanliness as a national value, civic duty, and
personal responsibility.
I. Cleanliness is promoted as a moral and ethical
obligation, comparable to voting or paying taxes.
II. Programs include door-to-door awareness, school
campaigns, and the introduction of public use bins,
embedding cleanliness into daily life.
III. Behavioral nudges, such as visual cues and
community reminders, reinforce sanitation as a
lifestyle rather than a temporary initiative.
Statistics: Rural toilet coverage rose from 39% in 2014 to
100% ODF in 2019 (DDWS Report 2019), showing that
societal mindsets had shifted dramatically.
This dimension underscores the value-driven essence of SBM,
emphasizing that sustainable change begins with a shift in
attitudes, norms, and collective vision.
 Historical Dimension

Sanitation has been central to India's heritage since ancient

times. The Indus Valley Civilization had advanced drainage,
covered sewers, and public baths. Classical texts like Charaka
Samhita and Sushruta Samhita also emphasized hygiene and
waste disposal.
Over time, particularly during colonial rule, sanitation
infrastructure deteriorated. Dense urban settlements
lacked proper drainage, and open defecation became
widespread. By 2014, nearly 55 crore people practiced
open defecation (WHOUNICEF JMP 2014).
The Swachh Bharat Mission represents a historical milestone,
facilitating the construction of over 10.5 crore toilets
(2014—2019), raising rural sanitation coverage from 39% to
100% (DDWS 2019). Gandhi's principle, "cleanliness is next
to godliness", underpins the mission's moral and civic ethos,
reviving the notion of sanitation as a national responsibility.
 Environmental Dimension
SBM is deeply linked to environmental sustainability:
 Plastic waste initiatives like the Digital Deposit
Refund System (DRS) prevented 66 metric tonnes
of C02 emissions and created 110+ jobs (SBM
Urban Plastic Waste Report 2022).
 Scientific municipal solid waste processing
increased from 18% in 2014 to 70% in 2021
(MOHUA 2021).
 Household composting and river-cleaning initiatives
reduce methane emissions, improve groundwater
recharge, and enhance biodiversity.
 Zero-waste initiatives, eco-bricks, and coastal
cleanups demonstrate resource recovery and
climate mitigation.
 Social Dimension
Sanitation improvements have a transformative social
impact:
• Post-SBM surveys indicate 93% of women in ODF
villages feel safer (UNICEF-2018).
• Community-led sanitation drives foster teamwork, pride,
and collective responsibility.
• "Adopt a Street/Park" initiatives empower citizens with
ownership of public spaces.
• Clean public toilets enhance women's mobility,
contributing to education and economic activity.
SBM strengthens equity, dignity, and social cohesion,
showing that sanitation is a social catalyst, not just a health
intervention.

Health Dimension
Sanitation directly impacts public health
 WHO estimates that SBM prevented over 300,000
deaths due to diarrhoea and malnutrition (2014—
2019).
 NFHS-5 reports a 1.9% reduction in diarrhoeal
diseases from 2015-21.
 Handwashing a one reduces diarrhoea by -40%
 Improved sanitation lowers incidences of malaria,
dengue, and rodent-borne diseases.
Clean surroundings also enhance mental well-being,
reducing stress caused by unsanitary conditions. Children in
ODF areas show better nutritional outcomes and higher
school attendance.
 Administrative & Policy Dimension
SBM's success relies
on strong governance and innovative policies:
• crore allocated for SBM-Urban by 2020 (MOHUA 2020-
21). By 2020, 4,258 of 4,520 cities were ODF certified.
• Innovations include Swachh Rankings, digital
dashboards, mechanized sweeping, IOT bins, and drone
monitoring.
• Public-private partnerships (PPP) and smart city
initiatives ensure sustainability and operational
efficiency.

Media & Awareness Dimension

Media campaigns play a crucial role in behavioral change:
 96% Of households in rural ODF areas use toilets
(Independent Verification Agency, 2018).
 Celebrity endorsements, cartoons, short films,
WhatsApp updates, and social media (#MyCleanlndia)
drive engagement.
 National competitions like Swachhta Pakhwada
encourage citizen participation and city-level
accountability.
 Educational Dimension
Schools and colleges foster long-term behavioral change:
 School toilet coverage rose from 60% (2014) to
nearly 100% (2019). Student-led initiatives,
eco-clubs, and poster competitions cultivate
responsible sanitation habits.
 NSS/NCC outreach extends campus activities
into local villages, ensuring community-wide
youth involvement.

Economic Dimension
Sanitation is a social and economic asset:
• Every spent on sanitation saves in healthcare costs
(World Bank). Waste processing, recycling, and
composting create employment opportunities.
• Cleaner markets attract business, increase trade, and
enhance tourism.
• Healthier communities improve workforce productivity
and reduce absenteeism
 Yoga & Holistic Health
Yoga complements sanitation initiatives:
 Enhances immunity, mental well-being, and physical
fitness.
 Community Yoga sessions during cleanliness drives
promote social unity.
 Integration of Yoga and SBM offers a holistic approach
to health, hygiene, and lifestyle discipline.
 Challenges & Future Directions
Key challenges:
 Sustaining hygiene behaviors in urban slums and rural
areas.
 Increasing municipal waste and plastics.
 Linking sanitation with clean water access.
 Ensuring high citizen engagement and policy compliance.


Future strategies:
 IoT-enabled waste monitoring
 Expanded community-led programs
 CSR involvement in sanitation projects
 Integration with health and environmental
campaigns
 Conclusion
The Swachh Bharat Mission is multi-dimensional,
combining policy, governance, education, health,
economy, environmental sustainability, and moral
responsibility.
 Cleanliness is both a physical necessity and a moral
duty.
 Citizen participation, personal responsibility, and
value-driven awareness ensure long-term impact.
 SBM demonstrates that sustainable sanitation and
behavioral change can be achieved even in large,
diverse developing nations.
Through collective effort, technology integration,
education, and ethical motivation, SBM ensures a
cleaner, healthier, and self-reliant India, setting a
global benchmark for sanitation and public health
initiatives.