Swachh Bharat Mission which was initiated by PM Narendra Modi back in year 2014 aims to achieve safe sanitation for all by 2019. For this project, the government has started several projects. These projects have encouraged many people to make individual efforts too for making India clean.Recently, UNICEF undertook a study for evaluating the cost benefits that Swachh Bharat mission will have on Indians. As a result, it is found out that every rupee that is invested in improving sanitation in the country will help save Rs 4.30. To identify this cost, independent surveys were conducted across 10,000 rural households in 12 Indian cities. This all is shared by Nicolas Osbert, the chief of WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) UNICEF India.
Nicolas Osbert, further added, “In a open defecation free (ODF) community, considering medical costs averted, the value of time savings and the value of mortality averted, the financial savings for each household is Rs 50,000 per year.”
Discussing about the progress of this mission, Parameswaran Iyer, the drinking water and sanitation secretary said, “five states, nearly 200 districts and nearly 2.4 lakh villages across the country have already declared themselves as ODF.” He added, “1.5 lakh villages have ranked themselves on the village swachhta index based on solid and liquid waste management in villages.”
On the basis of World Bank report published in 2008, Mr. Osbert said the total economic impact of inadequate sanitation in India amounted to $53.8 billion per year, equivalent of 6.4 per cent of the country’s then GDP. Nicolas Osbert also said, “India has been able to catalyse and mobilise the efforts of millions of citizens and the Swachh Bharat Mission is a once-in-a generation opportunity”.
He also praised the genuine efforts of Narendra Modi for this amazing intervention. In fact, he also appreciated on-going 15-day “Swachhta hi Seva’ cleanliness drive. Under this drive, the government officials, ministries, celebrities, corporates and citizens are requested to speed up their efforts.
With the support of UNICEF, government has also created sanitation volunteers. Even the government has a clearly-defined progress path for achieving open defecation free cities, districts and villages. For the different phases of the mission, there is a guideline-build, use, maintain and treat (BUMT).
This initiative of sanitation would definitely in curbing the rate of child mortality due to diarrhoeal diseases. As per the study of World Bank, approximately 40% of Indian kids are deprived of physical and mental development due to lack of cleanliness. However, Indian women have to face embarrassment due to no toilets at home. This put women’s dignity was at stake as they have to walk out of home for the same. Identifying this aspect of the time, recently a movie was also made on this subject.
