When Prime Minister Narendra Modi honored Kunwar Bai, a 105-year-old resident of Dhamtari village in Chhattisgarh, as the face of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) in 2016, little did she know the profound impact she would have. A centenarian who had never seen a toilet in her life, Kunwar Bai’s village was declared Open Defecation-Free (ODF) in 2018, marking a significant change in her life and the lives of her fellow villagers. 

“All my life, I defecated in the open. I went to a jungle to relieve myself. Only in the last one and a half years have I finally got what I waited for so long – a toilet. I don’t want anyone to face the same consequences that I underwent all my life,” quotes a grateful Kunwar. She was expressing her gratitude for finally having access to a basic human necessity that she had been deprived of for a century. Despite possibly hearing Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings during her lifetime, she remained without this necessity in the same country that claimed to uphold Gandhian aspirations. It took a generational leader, PM Modi, who truly believed in that vision, to act upon it finally.

Kunwar and many others like her share a common bond despite their economic, social, geographical, and age differences. They belong to the millions of Indians whose lives have changed since the introduction of Swachh Bharat. This shared dream reflects the vision of Mahatma Gandhi, for whom a clean India was deeply connected to the ideals of hygiene, social justice, and self-governance. After recognising the need for intervention to change the long-neglected status quo, Prime Minister Narendra Modi echoed this perspective. His view on cleanliness included physical cleanliness, mental purity, and social responsibility, which are essential for the holistic development of a nation and resonated with that of the Mahatma.

There was little discourse and grim perspectives on why, even after 60-plus years of independence, India was contributing to 60 per cent of the world’s total open defecations. Only four households out of ten had access to safe sanitation in 2014. Why did an amenity that was so basic yet the most crucial remain unsolved for so many years without any apprehensions or accountability?  A country poised to become a global leader desperately needed a vision, a master plan and a resolution. Then, the Swachh Bharat Mission was launched. The creativity behind conceiving the idea of a clean India had a vision of making the streets swachh and paving the road for Viksit Bharat (developed India), which could only be achieved by solving fundamental problems at the grassroots level.

SBM was conceptualised to teach farsightedness in the doctrine that welfare should reach the last household and democracy to the last person in line. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s launch of ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ (Clean India Mission) on October 2, 2014, on the 145th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, reiterated Gandhiji’s vision, making it an appropriate day for absolute resolve. [HV1] 

Ten years after the inception of SBM, 12 crores plus toilets have been constructed in India, providing a manifold of benefits that transcend making sanitation for all and fostering the community’s overall development. This has taken India on a path-breaking journey towards Viksit Bharat. As the family’s primary caregiver, Nari Shakti has emerged as the primary beneficiary and a crucial changemaker in SBM.

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Under the SBM initiative, not only have millions of toilets been constructed, but clean drinking water is also provided to households under the ‘Har Ghar Jal’ scheme. The PM-Ujjwala scheme has made gas connections available, ensuring the health and convenience of women. This has relieved women and daughters from the burden of gathering firewood for cooking in difficult conditions. By identifying women as primary beneficiaries and directly depositing allocated amounts into their bank accounts, the mission ensures women’s participation in all schemes, giving them a preferential role within the family and society. 

Leading community-driven initiatives has been a key factor in the mission’s success. For many women, their active involvement in the campaign has not only brought them social recognition within the village but also beyond, often elevating their status to a level they had not experienced before. The SBM campaign has created an environment where women can assert their increased bargaining power within the household. By associating social status with a household having a toilet, the campaign has made it easier for women to influence other community members to construct toilets. This empowerment and recognition have inspired many women to take charge of their lives and their communities. 

A survey on SBM found that 88% of rural women felt pride in owning a toilet, a basic yet impactful change. The availability of proper toilet facilities has begun to positively impact adolescent girls’ health. Today, due to improved sanitation facilities, these girls face a reduced risk of menstruation-related illnesses. This demonstrates how constructing just one toilet in a household can significantly enhance a girl child’s health and overall development,  addressing a long-standing issue that has long been considered taboo, especially in rural households.  

Since they have fewer health issues and illness days, they devote more time to studying and personal development. Similarly, overcoming this major health issue has empowered women to prioritise family care and productivity, contributing to their economic self-sufficiency and prosperity. Ensuring 100 per cent toilet facilities in the schools and Aanganwadis also increases the number of girls enrolled in educational institutions.   

The Swachh Bharat Mission has significantly promoted cleanliness in households throughout India, bolstering the country’s global reputation. A UNICEF study highlighted the secondary benefits associated with improved hygiene. According to the study, households in open defecation-free villages saved up to Rs 50,000 annually, with total benefits exceeding costs by 4.7 times (UNICEF, 2018). These savings were attributed to reduced illness, time saved on seeking treatment, and improved sanitation, leading to less contamination of soil and groundwater sources in ODF villages than those without 100% toilet coverage (UNICEF, 2019). Additionally, the mission has created 75 lakh full-time jobs, providing a significant boost to the country’s economy and reaffirming the long-term benefits of the Swachh Bharat Mission.

Today, India has more than 5.5 lakh ODF+ villages. Data-infused results revealed infant mortality rates could plummet by accessing safe sanitation, ensuring discourse that leads to overall behavioural change. A study by the International Food Policy Institute also re-established PM Modi’s consideration and the correlation between improved sanitation and lower child mortality. This study published in its report that SBM has been instrumental in averting 60,000-70,000 deaths between 2011 and 2020. For every 10% increase in access to sanitation, there was a nearly 1-point decrease in Infant Mortality and over 1% in under-5 mortality. Such a drastic change in the mortality rate can be credited to the safer and better sanitation facilities a mother receives during the prenatal and postnatal periods when the risk of pathogen infections remains high.  This can also be attributed to the better facilities women receive in terms of Janani Suraksha and PM Matru Vandana Yojana to ensure the mother’s and child’s overall well-being and nourishment.  

Swachh Bharat has multivarious impacts. Its influence on women’s empowerment extends beyond sanitation alone. By tackling gender inequalities, ensuring access to dignified facilities, creating economic opportunities, and encouraging active involvement, the mission has uplifted women and fostered a more inclusive and equitable society.

Today, women are enhancing their livelihoods and forming self-help groups through the Lakhpati Didi initiative, contributing effectively to their communities and the country’s progress. The Namo Drone Didi program empowers women to become drone pilots, enabling them to monitor fields and crops using drones. This innovative method of spraying pesticides over hundreds of acres saves farmers valuable time and creates employment opportunities for our Drone Didis. By ensuring basic sanitation facilities, the Swachh Bharat Mission has primarily become responsible for the emerging possibilities and opportunities for women in the country. As the initiative progresses, its SBM’s focus remains crucial for establishing a cleaner, safer, and more empowered future for everyone.

In PM Modi’s Mann Ki Baat, across 114 episodes, Swachh Bharat has been a central theme, mentioned nearly 90 times. The word “cleanliness” has appeared more than 322 times, “sanitation” over 40 times, and “waste to wealth” has been discussed on more than 10 occasions. This highlights PM Modi’s firmcommitment towards India’s cleanliness mission. It is his visionary leadership that has transformed it into a nationwide movement. What we’ve achieved today marks only the beginning of a larger journey toward a “Viksit Bharat”—a developed, prosperous and a clean India.