Swachh Bharat Mission

Quick Facts: Who was Swachh Bharat Mission?

Subject:

Swachh Bharat Mission

Known for:

India's national campaign to eliminate open defecation and improve sanitation.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or Clean India Mission is a country-wide campaign initiated by the Government of India on 2 October 2014 to eliminate open defecation and improve solid waste management and to create Open Defecation Free (ODF) villages. The mission also emphasizes scientific solid waste management, including segregation, collection, processing, and disposal of municipal waste. The program also aims to increase awareness of menstrual health management. It is a restructured version of the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan which was launched by the Government of India in 1999, as Total Sanitation Campaign. A formal sanitation programme was first launched in India in 1954, followed by the Central Rural Sanitation Programme in 1986, the Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) in 1999 and the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan in 2012.

Career & Major Achievements

These earlier programs laid the foundation for integrated sanitation and waste management approaches, which were further expanded under the Swachh Bharat Mission. Phase 1 of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) lasted until 2 October 2019, and Phase 2 is being implemented between 2020–21 and 2024–25 to reinforce the achievements of Phase 1. Initiated by the Government of India, the mission aimed to achieve an "open-defecation free" (ODF) India by 2 October 2019, the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi through construction of toilets. According to government data, approximately 90 million toilets were constructed during this period. The objectives of the first phase of the mission also included eradication of manual scavenging, generating awareness and bringing about a behaviour change regarding sanitation practices, and augmentation of capacity at the local level.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The second phase of the mission aims to sustain the open defecation-free status and improve the management of solid and liquid waste, while also working to improve the lives of sanitation workers. The mission is aimed at progressing towards target 6.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals Number 6 established by the United Nations in 2015. By achieving the lowest open defecation-free status in 2019, India achieved its Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.2 health target in record time, eleven years ahead of the UN SDG target of 31 December 2030. The campaign's official name is in Hindi. In English, it translates to "Clean India Mission".

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1954: 1954 Milestone — A formal sanitation programme was first launched in India in 1954, followed by the Central Rural Sanitation Programme in 1986, the Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) in 1999 and the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan in 2012.
2. 1999: 1999 Milestone — It is a restructured version of the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan which was launched by the Government of India in 1999, as Total Sanitation Campaign.
3. 2014: 2014 Milestone — Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or Clean India Mission is a country-wide campaign initiated by the Government of India on 2 October 2014 to eliminate open defecation and improve solid waste management and to create Open Defecation Free (ODF) villages.
4. 2015: 2015 Milestone — 2 of the Sustainable Development Goals Number 6 established by the United Nations in 2015.
5. 2019: 2019 Milestone — Phase 1 of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) lasted until 2 October 2019, and Phase 2 is being implemented between 2020–21 and 2024–25 to reinforce the achievements of Phase 1.

Notable Quotes by Swachh Bharat Mission

“Satyagrah se Swachhagrah”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Swachh Bharat Mission

True or False: “The initial formal sanitation program in India was launched after the country's independence.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The first formal sanitation programme was launched in 1954, which predates the period immediately following India's independence in 1947.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• 2014 League of Legends World Championship — Historical peer (Born in 2014) (2014): The 4th League of Legends World Championship, held in Asia in 2014.
• Adolfo Suárez — Historical peer (Died in 2014) (2014): Key architect of Spain's transition to democracy, serving as Prime Minister 1976-1981.
• Akhtar Hameed Khan — Historical peer (Died in 1999) (1999): Pioneering Pakistani social scientist and development practitioner.
• Akio Morita — Historical peer (Died in 1999) (1999): Visionary Japanese entrepreneur and co-founder of Sony.
• Aarathi — Historical peer (Born in 1954) (1954): Veteran Indian actress celebrated for her roles in Kannada cinema during the 1970s and 1980s.
• Abdel Fattah el-Sisi — Historical peer (Born in 1954) (1954): Egyptian military leader who became the sixth President of Egypt in 2014.
• Aaron Swartz — Historical peer (Born in 1986) (1986): Pioneering programmer, activist, and hacktivist known for RSS, Markdown, and progressive organizing.
• Adolph Caesar — Historical peer (Died in 1986) (1986): Acclaimed American actor known for his deep voice and Off-Broadway staple status.
• Adam Yauch — Historical peer (Died in 2012) (2012): Founding member of Beastie Boys; influential rapper, filmmaker, and Tibetan activist.
• Adrienne Rich — Historical peer (Died in 2012) (2012): Influential American poet, essayist, and leading voice in feminist literary discourse.

Frequently Asked Questions about Swachh Bharat Mission