NEW DELHI: The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on October 2, 2014, represents a paradigm shift towards achieving universal sanitation coverage in India. With the ambitious goal of making India "open-defecation free" (ODF) by the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in 2019, this initiative has since revolutionised the country’s approach to hygiene and sanitation.
The mission aimed to improve the health and well-being of millions of Indians by constructing over 100 million toilets in rural India and has become a global model for community-driven sanitation reform.
As of September 2024, over 5.87 lakh villages across India have achieved ODF Plus status, with over 3.92 lakh villages implementing solid waste management systems and over 4.95 lakh villages establishing liquid waste management systems. This phase also saw the construction of over 11.64 crore household toilets and more than 2.41 lakh community sanitary complexes, underscoring the government’s dedication to sustainable sanitation practices.
A recent study published in Nature, the world’s leading multi-disciplinary science journal, by leading experts reveals that the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), India’s ambitious national sanitation program, has contributed significantly to reducing infant and under-five mortality rates across the country – averting 60,000 – 70,000 infant lives annually.
The study, which utilized a quasi experimental design, provides robust evidence linking increased toilet access under SBM with improved child survival outcomes. Launched in 2014, SBM is one of the largest national behavioural change sanitation programs in the world, aimed at eliminating open defecation by providing household toilets across the country. This unique programme has now metamorphised into ensuring Sampoorna Swachhata in the country.
The study analysed data from 35 Indian states and 640 districts spanning a decade (2011-2020), focusing on infant mortality rate (IMR) and under-five mortality rate (U5MR) per thousand live births as the primary outcomes. The study employed two-way fixed effects regression models to control for sociodemographic, wealth, and healthcare-related confounders at the district level, ensuring a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between sanitation improvements and child mortality.
The Swachh Bharat Mission stands as a transformative initiative that has revolutionized sanitation in India, delivering widespread public health benefits. By providing millions of toilets, reducing infant mortality, and improving the safety of women, the mission has profoundly impacted the lives of Indians. It continues to serve as one of the largest and most successful public health initiatives in the world, exemplifying how sanitation improvements can lead to a healthier, safer, and more prosperous society.
