Reality of Swachh Bharat Mission
On October 2, 2017, the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) completed its third year. Over ₹60,000 crore has been spent on the programme, but despite its scope and importance, there is very little objective evidence about its performance
So far the numbers that have been widely cited by the government are from its own administrative data and the Swachh Survekshan Gramin 2017, conducted by the Quality Council of India (QCI), a body set up jointly by the Government of India and industry. Both the sources, i.e. QCI’s survey and the SBM website, portray a similar picture. At the time when the survey was conducted between May and June 2017, Swachh Survekshan claimed 62.45% India-wide latrine coverage, which was similar to the SBM’s figure of 63.73%. Moreover, the QCI survey also claimed that 91.29% of those with access to a toilet use it.
If true, these numbers would mean better public health outcomes in India — a very desirable outcome. However, one can debate their accuracy. Researchers who study sanitation agree that the questionnaire is structured to show the appearance of latrine use. In fact, research shows that surveys which pose a balanced question about open defecation or latrine use for each person in a household are able to document more open defecation than survey questions that group household members by demographic categories.
Off the mark
Inaccurate estimate of latrine use is not the only problem the SBM faces; a variety of implementation challenges exist as well. The pressure of an approaching deadline of making India open defecation free (ODF) is one.
During my recent visit to a few villages in Uttar Pradesh to study the programme, a village pradhan described the pressure of building latrines: “Last year I was given the target of building 27 latrines, which I have got constructed, and now the target for this year is to build 104. After these are constructed, my village will be declared open defecation free.” He did not mention that being declared ODF would depend on anyone using the constructed latrines. Moreover, he said that the criterion would include decrepit and unused structures constructed under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan, the United Progressive Alliance government’s latrine building programme. SBM counts these as functional latrines, as the baseline data in 2012 did. In fact, pictures of such defunct latrines can be seen on the SBM website categorised as “uploaded”, “approved” and “counted”.
The pradhan’s experience is in line with findings by sanitation researchers in independent studies. In a report called “Quality and Sustainability of Toilets” (WaterAid, 2017), the authors report that in the eight States where the study was conducted, less than a quarter of households said that it was their own initiative to build the toilet. This is contrary to the government’s claim that SBM is a people’s movement.
In another study, “Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) Immersive Research,” conducted by Praxis, the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), and WaterAid, researchers lived with families in each of the eight ODF villages selected. They aimed to explore behavioural change best practices in rural districts that have been declared ODF in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
Although each of these villages had been declared ODF and the authorities verified them to be ODF, the ‘Immersive’ study found that of the eight verified ODF villages, only one was actually ODF, one was close to being ODF, and the rest had remarks such as “some OD observed,” “OD areas identified,” and “OD prevalent.” The two “ODF verified villages” in Uttar Pradesh had 37% and 74%, respectively, of households without a toilet in their house. An “ODF verified” village in Rajasthan had a toilet coverage of just 16%.
False ODF claims were not the only disconcerting observations that the researchers made. In all the villages, the study found coercive measures having been used to promote the SBM. The authors say: “Panchayats have been making threats, though seldom imposed, with a variety of sanctions and punishments, ranging from denial of all State welfare schemes (for instance withdrawal of ration cards) to imposing of fines… and arrest and prosecution under various sections of [the] Indian Penal Code.”
Unfortunately, we do not have credible, representative country-wide estimates of latrine use in India. On one hand, government data and the Swachh Survekshan show the programme to be achieving what it is meant to achieve. But, independent, rapid studies by sanitation researchers and anecdotal stories present a less rosy picture. The programe seems to be running on a check mark-based approach, and between all this, widespread open defecation in India continues to kill babies, and stunts those who survive. more
So far the numbers that have been widely cited by the government are from its own administrative data and the Swachh Survekshan Gramin 2017, conducted by the Quality Council of India (QCI), a body set up jointly by the Government of India and industry. Both the sources, i.e. QCI’s survey and the SBM website, portray a similar picture. At the time when the survey was conducted between May and June 2017, Swachh Survekshan claimed 62.45% India-wide latrine coverage, which was similar to the SBM’s figure of 63.73%. Moreover, the QCI survey also claimed that 91.29% of those with access to a toilet use it.
If true, these numbers would mean better public health outcomes in India — a very desirable outcome. However, one can debate their accuracy. Researchers who study sanitation agree that the questionnaire is structured to show the appearance of latrine use. In fact, research shows that surveys which pose a balanced question about open defecation or latrine use for each person in a household are able to document more open defecation than survey questions that group household members by demographic categories.
Off the mark
Inaccurate estimate of latrine use is not the only problem the SBM faces; a variety of implementation challenges exist as well. The pressure of an approaching deadline of making India open defecation free (ODF) is one.
During my recent visit to a few villages in Uttar Pradesh to study the programme, a village pradhan described the pressure of building latrines: “Last year I was given the target of building 27 latrines, which I have got constructed, and now the target for this year is to build 104. After these are constructed, my village will be declared open defecation free.” He did not mention that being declared ODF would depend on anyone using the constructed latrines. Moreover, he said that the criterion would include decrepit and unused structures constructed under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan, the United Progressive Alliance government’s latrine building programme. SBM counts these as functional latrines, as the baseline data in 2012 did. In fact, pictures of such defunct latrines can be seen on the SBM website categorised as “uploaded”, “approved” and “counted”.
The pradhan’s experience is in line with findings by sanitation researchers in independent studies. In a report called “Quality and Sustainability of Toilets” (WaterAid, 2017), the authors report that in the eight States where the study was conducted, less than a quarter of households said that it was their own initiative to build the toilet. This is contrary to the government’s claim that SBM is a people’s movement.
In another study, “Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) Immersive Research,” conducted by Praxis, the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), and WaterAid, researchers lived with families in each of the eight ODF villages selected. They aimed to explore behavioural change best practices in rural districts that have been declared ODF in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
Although each of these villages had been declared ODF and the authorities verified them to be ODF, the ‘Immersive’ study found that of the eight verified ODF villages, only one was actually ODF, one was close to being ODF, and the rest had remarks such as “some OD observed,” “OD areas identified,” and “OD prevalent.” The two “ODF verified villages” in Uttar Pradesh had 37% and 74%, respectively, of households without a toilet in their house. An “ODF verified” village in Rajasthan had a toilet coverage of just 16%.
False ODF claims were not the only disconcerting observations that the researchers made. In all the villages, the study found coercive measures having been used to promote the SBM. The authors say: “Panchayats have been making threats, though seldom imposed, with a variety of sanctions and punishments, ranging from denial of all State welfare schemes (for instance withdrawal of ration cards) to imposing of fines… and arrest and prosecution under various sections of [the] Indian Penal Code.”
Unfortunately, we do not have credible, representative country-wide estimates of latrine use in India. On one hand, government data and the Swachh Survekshan show the programme to be achieving what it is meant to achieve. But, independent, rapid studies by sanitation researchers and anecdotal stories present a less rosy picture. The programe seems to be running on a check mark-based approach, and between all this, widespread open defecation in India continues to kill babies, and stunts those who survive. more
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I REQUEST EVERY ONE OF YOU TO FOLLOW THE AYUDA EHZHTHU CONDUCTED BY THANTHI TV, ESPECIALLY YESTERDAY, 22ND NOVEMBER 17, A REPRESENTATIVE OF OPPOSITION WHO ALWAYS WARES FULL SUIT EVEN DURING HOT SUMMER ACCUSED THE RULING PARTY ABOUT EGG NOT PROVIDED TO STUDENT'S DURING MID DAY MEAL AT TAMILNADU RECENTLY. WHEN THE ANCHOR ASKED HIM TO SPECIFICALLY NAME THE SCHOOLS, WHERE VIOLATIONS HAPPENED, HE (FULL SUIT) CASUALLY REPLIED THAT IT IS A HEARSAY. THEN AGAIN THE ANCHOR ASKED HIM, CAN HE MAKE A STATEMENT WITHOUT PROOF, THERE WAS A HEAVY PANDEMONIUM. LIKE THAT, THE WELFARE MEASURES OF ANY GOVERNMENT WILL BE CRITICIZED BY THE OPPOSITION, AND I AM CONFINING MY STATEMENT ONLY TO MY STATE. more
Nov 23
Let us not be pessimistic about the success of the Swacha Bharat programme. There are several tangible benefits especially in creation of infrastructure for sanitation in rural areas. Secondly there is huge awareness in the society and govt'al agencies on cleanliness. Of course at individual level there are still problems. Mind set is not changing as fast as one expects. This is the case with every reformation initiatives not alone to Swacha Bharat. For close to 70 years we have not done anything but with Swacha campaign in 3-4 years we have done a lot. I am optimistic. more
Nov 23
If we want real swachcha Bharat Mission to success all ULBs must treat their biodegrdable garbage like food waste etc using Bio Methanation like gobar Gas plants or Nisarga Runa Bio gas Plants already working in Mumbai Delhi Chandigarh successfully converting all waste to methane energy and fertiizer without polluting the environment.Do it
mspalnitkar Malad Mumbai more
mspalnitkar Malad Mumbai more
Dec 03
Yes is a manhole covered with iron lid, but the lid has gone in on the recent visit a month a ago our elected Asif came we should it to him, but yet no body has come and done anything about in I live in Somnath lane bandra west Mumbai 50. more
Nov 23
I am sure that local administrations are either under equipped or lack change in attitude. They work more to create statistical data/show for projecting cause of politicians. There is no seriousness to monitor public suggestions/complaints. They are only forwarded down the ladder without final action reporting to the source. An example that un authorized occupations/dwellings come up on the road margins-nor they are regularized with proper amenities. Mean while we keep reporting total success of Open Defecation initiative. Vizag is one of the smart cities in the offing but I do not find the seriousness in monitoring initiatives nor effectively self auditing or reacting to public complaints. MAR Ansari more
Nov 21
If there is a manhole covered with iron lid, people steal it. Even the iron coverings of electrical boxes on the sides of the roads or poles are stolen If homes are given garbage bins by the government to fill the garbage and leave it outside for the municipality to pickup the garbage - garbage bin gets stolen. more
Nov 20
I go to some friends houses to visit. Some houses the toilets are so dirty, I wait to come back to my home. They have servant maids cleaning their toilets but they don't care and don't clean it with their heart and mind. As someone else pointed out they don't care but they are not the end users.
My question is, why can't people clean their own toilets ? What is wrong in it? India inherited this attitude that 'I am not born to do such menial jobs'
My friends some went to do MS in Canada with the support of his family and friends who paid him to study. The money is barely enough and he needs to work outside somewhere like tacobell, mcdonalds, KFC etc. Part of his job responsibilities are clean the toilets to keep them sparkling white, collect all the trash and put them in bags and place them where municipalities come and pick them up. He never did that even at his home to help his mother. He called me and said 'I can't do this job. I want to change the school. I want to study at a school where they pay me'. I told him 'your family and friends sent you there with a lot of hopes that you come up in your life' This is part of growing up. Doing these jobs will actually make you grow as a human being. Finish your degree first before thinking of changing the school'
Let us not blame the government. First we need to change the mindsets and attitudes of general public. Automatically, government's job will become simpler.
I have nothing else to say. I hope this is useful more
My question is, why can't people clean their own toilets ? What is wrong in it? India inherited this attitude that 'I am not born to do such menial jobs'
My friends some went to do MS in Canada with the support of his family and friends who paid him to study. The money is barely enough and he needs to work outside somewhere like tacobell, mcdonalds, KFC etc. Part of his job responsibilities are clean the toilets to keep them sparkling white, collect all the trash and put them in bags and place them where municipalities come and pick them up. He never did that even at his home to help his mother. He called me and said 'I can't do this job. I want to change the school. I want to study at a school where they pay me'. I told him 'your family and friends sent you there with a lot of hopes that you come up in your life' This is part of growing up. Doing these jobs will actually make you grow as a human being. Finish your degree first before thinking of changing the school'
Let us not blame the government. First we need to change the mindsets and attitudes of general public. Automatically, government's job will become simpler.
I have nothing else to say. I hope this is useful more
Nov 20
A few years ago I was in Pune where big giant IT companies have their offices employing thousands of software engineers. Like anywhere else, you will find roadside tea stalls not only tea but vada pav and other snacks. Usually stall owner provides a few garbage bins on the side. However, many people who come and have snacks throw the trash but don't throw them in the dustbins provided. These are educated Engineering and computer science degree holders. It is a shame.
I think educational institutions should have a special course allotted for students, once a week, that includes picking up garbage on streets and putting it in designated municipality pickup areas. It should be mandatory and Unless they pass this course, they should not be given degrees. It is a social responsibility of every citizen and civic sense and responsibilities should be part of every school and college's curriculum more
I think educational institutions should have a special course allotted for students, once a week, that includes picking up garbage on streets and putting it in designated municipality pickup areas. It should be mandatory and Unless they pass this course, they should not be given degrees. It is a social responsibility of every citizen and civic sense and responsibilities should be part of every school and college's curriculum more
Nov 20
