Second phase of Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) launched

The Union Jal Shakti Minister, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched the second phase of Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) at the National Dissemination and Consultation workshop in New Delhi. During the launch, the Minister praised the successful implementation of the mission’s first phase and stated that the cabinet approval to the phase-II of the mission is a great recognition to the achievements made under the first phase.

About the second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen)

• The second phase will focus on sustaining the gains made under the programme in the last five years in terms of toilet access and usage, ensuring that no one is left behind.
• It will also ensure that effective solid and liquid waste management (SLWM) is instituted in every Gram Panchayat of the country.
• It will continue to generate employment and provide impetus to the rural economy through the construction of household toilets and community toilets.

Objectives

• To bring about an improvement in the general quality of life in the rural areas, by promoting cleanliness, hygiene and eliminating open defecation.
• To motivate communities to adopt sustainable sanitation practices and facilities through awareness creation and health education.
• To encourage cost-effective and appropriate technologies for ecologically safe and sustainable sanitation.
• To develop community managed sanitation systems focusing on scientific Solid & Liquid Waste Management systems for overall cleanliness in the rural areas.
• To create a significant positive impact on gender and promote social inclusion by improving sanitation especially in marginalized communities.

Clean India Mission (SBM)

• This mission was launched in October 2014 with the objective of achieving universal sanitation coverage and focusing on cleanliness.
• The mission aims to achieve Swachh Bharat and make India clean by 2019 as a proper tribute to the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
• It is the largest sanitation program in the world, aiming to change the behavior of people in relation to toilet access and its use.
• SBM also includes two sub-missions, Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural), to be implemented in rural areas and Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), to be implemented in urban areas.

Impact of Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen)

• The Union Government has also released a study done by the UNICEF and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) on the impact of Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) on the women in the rural areas.
• The study was released as a part of the National Dissemination and Consultation workshop, ahead of the International Women’s Day on March 8.
• The study titled- Impact of the SBM (G) on the convenience, safety and self-respect of women in rural India –had surveyed around 7000 women across five states- Madhya Pradesg, Bihar, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan in February 2020.
• The study revealed that an increase in access to household toilets has led to the improvement in the Suraksha, Suvidha and Swabhimaan of rural women.

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