Do you think that the Targets for Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) will be achived by 2019?

The Government aims to achieve provision of safe drinking water and open defecation free status for both urban and rural India by 2019 through its flagship programme - Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). The Union Budget 2015-16 is expected to accord high priority to the sector in terms of budgetary allocation while looking to improve the implementation mechanism. Towards this end, the government is mobilizing funds from various sources. What do you experts think? Is this achievable targets?

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10 Answers

1. It is a bit of sloganism right now. The main problem I see in it is lack of prioritization. 1. Sanitation is an acute problem in Urban India. Rural India has got a bit of nature cycle going (well, you know what I mean) and there is no dearth of open spaces. The priority for the next 5 years should be urban India. 2. Coming to Urban India, the main issue is lack of drainage system - which will come at a huge investment. As our cities simply dump everything into the rivers and there is no urban planning mechanism used as such. Al our river cleaning projects have consumed thousands of Crores of Rupees but results are dismal. That is again due to lack of clarity on 'what needs to be done'. There is a rethink required on this but most of the government bodies as well as others seem to have fallen into a rut of 'just do something' thinking. So, I think it will not have much of an impact because it lacks basic foundational thinking on what exactly needs to be done and in what order of priority. I just see photo ops backed by general confusion about the strategy

2. It is a mind change rather than actual implementation. Policy changes are happening which is good.

3. Well I feel it needs a lot of awareness program,which includes introduction from early school education with the support of the parents and teachers,with a separate course and books and other materials in hand plus T.V shows in regional languages etc.even if you have enough funding,they should reach the right officials/people who are really dedicated to do so..then I hope SBM is not very far.

4. This needs to be taken up in a big and serious way by the State Governments and ULBs and count has begun from the 2nd October 2014. With passing of each day without concerted follow up actions, it is going to be an UPHILL TASK as the time period gets closer to 2nd october 2019. So without much ado, each State shall start implementing SBM on a Mission Mode without any further delay.

5. It is an achievable target, provided the spirit by which it is taken up in the main stream as one of the most priority issues, is to be further strengthened with community involvement, capacity building and public awareness creations. Participation of public, private and NGOs are progressively encouraged. At least, half yearly basis, evaluations of target achieved and needful monitoring at various levels required including on ground realities in terms of construction of units in the field, fund dispersed and utilized and provisioning of safe drinking water facilities/ supplies made are to be incorporated as a routine task for assessing the efficiency and achieving the proposed target by 2019.

6. Looking to the present pace of development and implementation of scheme, trend analysis become inevitable. People having access to data can post the trends and comment on 2019 target. However, provision of NGP awards to ODF villages seems to be inadequate motivation as it is not generating motivation as expected. Let there be a brain storming on this issue.

7. Safe drinking water and open defecation free status for all India is very desirable but also very ambitious target. We must have political will, executive zeal and judiciary support. The challenge is whenever any such scheme is launched, every stakeholder tries to get its agenda included. It is boon as well as bane of Democracy.

8. The Swachha Bharat Abhiyan though is a government ambition, its proper implementation requires tremendous social awakening as well as sustained effort. The Indian people are required to be taught about stopping inadvertent or intentional spitting at any place either after chewing paans or charging the mouth with paan masala/tobco/gutkha etc., throwing the garbage comfortably at any place, pissing outside any where even outside the public toilets, defecating in public, spoiling the public toilets and many more such habits. There is no divide between the educated and uneducated people as regards the dirty habits are concerned. Rest with the government budget allocated for building toilets etc. how much work can be attained is quite uncertain.

9. The Modi Govt has started this campaign. I do not know who has prevented the government to keep their offices clean, to make railway stations specvially of state capitals like Ahmedabad and hospitals and other public utilities clean. Whether the government want to escape from the responsibility of keeping the government buildings and offices clean? Let the Government of India and state Governments do their their job of cleaning government institutions. Then I will think of taking active part in Modi Govt clean India campaign. However I will like to mention that myself and my wife keep our house extra ordinary clean.

   1 Comment

   1. You said it correct sir. Why govt offices are not clean?

10. Budget provision and making funds available at right place, at right time and at right magnitude can be challenging but achievable. What is needed side by side is an an extensive outreach, educating and awareness creation programmer for the masses to change deep seated mind set. This should best be done bottom up by grass root level NGO's, some of which are doing exemplary work. One example is Family Planning Association with their information, education and communication has turned out successful results.