When Swachhata Became a People’s Movement

Key Highlights:

• Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) achieved 100% rural sanitation coverage by 2019, constructing over 10.28 crore toilets.
• Rural India was declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) in 2019, leading to Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G) Phase II.
• SBM-G Phase II focuses on sustaining ODF status and strengthening Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) systems, creating ODF Plus villages.
• As of September 17, 2026, 5.69 lakh villages are ODF Plus, with 5.25 lakh achieving ODF Plus Model status.
• The GOBARdhan initiative converts organic waste into biogas and manure, with 1,314 plants operational across 582 districts.
• Women (Swachhagrahis, DAY-NRLM Self-Help Groups) and schools are central to driving behavioral change and community action.
• Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) play a crucial role in planning, implementation, and sustaining sanitation at the community level.

Detailed Insights:

• SBM-G Phase II signifies a shift from merely providing toilets to ensuring sustained usage, waste management, and overall village cleanliness.
• ODF Plus villages are categorized into Aspiring, Rising, and Model based on their progress in managing solid and liquid waste and maintaining visual cleanliness.
• The GOBARdhan initiative is a flagship program under SBM-G Phase II, promoting a circular economy by converting organic waste into valuable resources.
• Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) is a core strategy of SBM-G, encouraging safe toilet use, proper waste disposal, and general hygiene practices.
• Women, as Swachhagrahis and through DAY-NRLM Self-Help Groups (SHGs), are vital agents of change, promoting sanitation and generating livelihoods through waste management.
• Schools serve as crucial institutions for inculcating hygiene habits in children, who then influence their families and contribute to broader community cleanliness.
• Gram Panchayats and VWSCs provide the institutional framework for local planning, community mobilization, and implementation of sanitation activities.
• The Swachhata Hi Seva campaign fosters Jan Bhagidari (people's participation) through collective cleanliness drives and awareness programs, making cleanliness a shared responsibility.
• Sanitation initiatives are creating new livelihood opportunities in areas like waste collection, processing, and the maintenance of sanitation infrastructure.
• The mission promotes environmental sustainability and local value creation by transforming waste into resources, such as treated water for irrigation and biogas.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM): A nationwide campaign launched by the Government of India to eliminate open defecation and improve solid waste management.
• Open Defecation Free (ODF): A status achieved when no person is seen defecating in the open, and every household and public institution uses a toilet.
• ODF Plus: A village that sustains its ODF status, effectively manages solid and liquid waste, and maintains visual cleanliness.
• Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM): The systematic process of collecting, treating, and disposing of solid and liquid waste generated in rural areas.
• GOBARdhan: An initiative under SBM-G Phase II to convert cattle dung, agricultural waste, and organic waste into biogas and organic manure.
• Swachhagrahis: Community volunteers, often women, who promote sanitation and hygiene practices at the grassroots level.
• Jan Bhagidari: The concept of people's participation, emphasizing community involvement and ownership in government programs and initiatives.