The Swachh Bharat Mission–Grameen (SBM-G) has evolved from a toilet-construction programme into a broader community-led sanitation movement focused on behavioural change, waste management and sustainable sanitation systems.
The Swachh Bharat Mission–Grameen (SBM-G) was launched on 2 October 2014 with the objective of making rural India Open Defecation Free (ODF) by providing access to toilets and promoting behavioural change.
The first phase focused on eliminating open defecation and achieving universal sanitation coverage in rural areas.
Over 100 million individual household toilets were constructed, and more than 6 lakh villages were declared ODF by October 2019. The mission contributed to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 6.2, which aims to achieve adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all.
It also improved health, safety and dignity, particularly for women, while reducing environmental contamination associated with open defecation.
After the achievement of ODF status, Phase II shifted the focus from toilet construction to sustaining ODF outcomes and achieving comprehensive sanitation.
The phase aims to prevent a return to open defecation, ensure continued toilet usage and maintenance, and establish effective systems for solid and liquid waste management. It also seeks to improve visual cleanliness by reducing litter, stagnant wastewater and plastic waste dumps in public places.
The mission seeks to ensure the continued use and maintenance of toilets and prevent villages from slipping back into open defecation.
The mission promotes effective systems for household waste collection, segregation, processing and disposal, including the management of plastic waste.
The mission encourages appropriate systems for managing greywater and other liquid waste through drainage, treatment and wastewater-management facilities.
The mission aims to maintain clean public spaces by reducing litter, stagnant wastewater and plastic waste accumulation in villages.
Under SBM-G Phase II, villages are assessed according to their progress in sustaining ODF status and implementing waste-management systems.
|
Category |
Criteria |
|---|---|
|
Aspiring |
Sustains ODF status and has arrangements for either solid or liquid waste management. |
|
Rising |
Sustains ODF status and has arrangements for both solid and liquid waste management. |
|
Model |
Sustains ODF status, has both solid and liquid waste-management systems, maintains visual cleanliness and displays ODF Plus Information, Education and Communication (IEC) messages. |
GOBARdhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) is an umbrella initiative under SBM-G Phase II that promotes the conversion of cattle dung, agricultural crop residue and organic waste into useful products.
These include biogas, compressed biogas (CBG) and organic manure or bio-slurry. The initiative supports scientific waste management, resource recovery, environmental sustainability and rural livelihood generation.
SBM-G has shifted the emphasis from merely constructing toilets to promoting sustained sanitation and hygiene practices. It encourages safe toilet usage, handwashing, safe water storage, waste segregation, composting and responsible waste disposal.
Women have emerged as important participants in sanitation transformation through Swachhagrahis and Self-Help Groups (SHGs). They promote toilet usage, conduct awareness campaigns, support waste management and strengthen community-level sanitation practices.
Schools help develop sanitation habits among children by promoting hygiene education, waste management and environmental responsibility. Students can carry these practices from schools to their families and communities.
Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) support sustainable sanitation through village-level planning, waste management, awareness activities and community mobilisation. They connect individual sanitation practices with collective village-level outcomes.
Cleanliness has evolved into a people-led movement through initiatives such as Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS). These initiatives encourage citizens, SHGs, youth groups, schools and local institutions to participate in maintaining public cleanliness.
The mission has created livelihood opportunities in waste collection, recycling, composting, sanitation infrastructure and maintenance services. Women-led enterprises and community groups can play an important role in these activities.
Initiatives such as GOBARdhan convert organic waste, cattle dung and agricultural residue into biogas, CBG and organic manure. This supports a circular economy by turning waste into valuable resources while creating rural livelihood opportunities.
Community-led greywater treatment can contribute to water conservation, groundwater recharge, irrigation support and environmental sustainability. Appropriate treatment and reuse systems also help reduce stagnant water and environmental contamination.
Continued toilet usage, handwashing and safe water practices remain essential to prevent villages from slipping back into open defecation. Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) should be strengthened through Swachhagrahis, SHGs, schools and community participation.
Inadequate waste collection, segregation, processing and disposal can undermine rural cleanliness. Villages need stronger decentralised waste-management systems that promote recycling, composting and scientific disposal.
Poor greywater and wastewater management can cause stagnant water and environmental contamination. Appropriate systems should promote drainage, treatment, reuse, water conservation and groundwater recharge.
Gram Panchayats require sustained technical, financial and managerial capacity to plan, monitor and maintain sanitation infrastructure. Sanitation should be integrated into village development planning.
Sanitation infrastructure requires continuous operation and maintenance, while waste remains an underutilised resource. Expanding GOBARdhan, recycling, composting and waste-to-energy models, alongside support for women-led enterprises and SHGs, can help address this challenge.
Long-term sanitation outcomes depend on sustained public participation rather than government-led infrastructure creation alone. Jan Bhagidari should be strengthened by involving citizens, youth, schools, SHGs and local institutions through initiatives such as Swachhata Hi Seva.
India's sanitation journey has progressed through three broad stages: Access → Usage → Sustainability. SBM-G has transformed sanitation from a programme focused on infrastructure creation into a people-led movement based on behavioural change, community ownership and sustainable waste management.
We provide offline, online and recorded lectures in the same amount.
Every aspirant is unique and the mentoring is customised according to the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirant.
In every Lecture. Director Sir will provide conceptual understanding with around 800 Mindmaps.
We provide you the best and Comprehensive content which comes directly or indirectly in UPSC Exam.
If you haven’t created your account yet, please Login HERE !
We provide offline, online and recorded lectures in the same amount.
Every aspirant is unique and the mentoring is customised according to the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirant.
In every Lecture. Director Sir will provide conceptual understanding with around 800 Mindmaps.
We provide you the best and Comprehensive content which comes directly or indirectly in UPSC Exam.
Offline/Online Class
