Q5. Write a science based report on Swachha Bharat Abhiyan
Answers
Answer:
Explanation: PM Narendra Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan 3 years ago on 2nd October 2014
following the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi. A Swachh Bharat was one of Gandhiji’s dearest
dreams and it was his belief in the cause, which made our country come so far ahead in this
journey. There were almost 550 million people practicing open defecation till 2014; 250 million of them
no longer practice open defecation.
The mission of the program isto focus on sanitation,cleanliness and to eliminate open defecation in
India by 2019. Sanitation coverage has already gone up from 42% in October 2014 to 60% in May 2017.
The Abhiyan is divided into urban and rural missions taken over by Ministry of Urban Development
(MoUD) and Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS) respectively. The total estimated
cost of Swachh Bharat Mission Urban for years 2014-19 is Rs. 62,009 crores and thesameis Rs.1,34,000
crores for Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin.
The national movement for ‘Swachh Bharat’ can also be viewed as ‘Swastha Bharat’ as it comprises
of a series of public health initiatives towards practicing preventive health. Shri Narendra Modi is the
first ever Prime Minister of India who has paid attention to this crucial link between open
defecation/sanitation and health of the nation. Although, building toilets will be job half-done but
ending open defecation is as much about fighting mind-sets and PM Modi is driving this transition
through behavioural change among people through awareness campaigns, speeches and celebrity
involvement in the program. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan receives 15 per cent of the funding for
Information, Education and Communication (IEC) to trigger behaviour change and generate demand
for sanitation