write an article on cleanliness drive in india
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According to a survey in 2011, over 26 million people in India defecated in the open. Around 60 percent of Indians did not have access to safe and private toilets. Such overwhelming majority of those without access to sanitation facilities posed a formidable obstacle in the development of the nation.
In this backdrop, Prime Minister Narendra Modi started the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or Clean India Mission to address the challenges of water, sanitation, and hygiene on October 2nd, 2014 at Rajghat in New Delhi. This flagship programme of the Union government aims to realize the dream of a Clean India by October 02, 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) on October 2nd, 2014, the 145th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The ambitious programme aims to make the streets, roads and infrastructure across the country clean by October 02nd, 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation. It is India’s biggest ever cleanliness drive.
Sanitation has emerged as a key issue since the 2011 Census highlighted the glaring data on lack of toilets in the country by stating that over 26 million people in India defecate in the open. Launched with an estimated cost of around Rs 62,000 crore, Swachh Bharat Mission aims to achieve the elimination of open defecation in the country. Among its other objectives are conversion of insanitary toilets to pour flush toilets, putting an end to the inhuman practice of manual scavenging and carrying out Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM).
Launching the mission, Prime Minster nominated nine famous personalities for the campaign. They joined the campaign and nominated nine more people. Thus, the momentum had been built with people from all walks of life joining it. Eminent personalities such as Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Kailash Kher, Priyanka Chopra and leading sportspersons like Sachin Tendulkar, Sania Mirza, Saina Nehwal and Mary Kom were part of the SBM initiative.
As per the government data, till November 2018, around 25 states and more than 5 lakhs villages have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) and 96.55% rural household have now access to toilets. There have been around 89 million toilets built since 02nd October, 2014 and the work is still in progress.
Though the government is putting forward its best efforts, but what matters the most is the behavioural change of its citizen which is very important to keep our country clean. There is a need of an attitudinal change on the part of all citizens to fulfill the mission of a clean India in its true spirit.