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LETTER TO THE EDITOR |
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| Year : 2015 | Volume
: 19
| Issue : 1 | Page : 66-67 |
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Swachh Bharat: A scheme or dream
Manjari Manisha
Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, CSIR-National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies Campus, New Delhi, India
| Date of Web Publication | 14-May-2015 |
Correspondence Address:
Manjari Manisha
CSIR National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies, Dr. K. S. Krishnan Marg, New Delhi - 110 012
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0019-5278.157015
How to cite this article:
Manisha M. Swachh Bharat: A scheme or dream. Indian J Occup Environ Med 2015;19:66-7 |
Dear Sir,
"Swachh Bharat Mission" launched by government of India on 2 nd October 2014 the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi is intended to eradicate sanitation crisis from India by 2019 but the desired results can only be achieved when the country will review the current scenario and develop a sustainable sanitation program rather just changing name of the campaigns.
Sanitation is as simple as washing our hand, if sanitation is not dealt properly, it can end up in troubles of being an individual, social disorder, prudent and national trouble. It is a shared obligation of individual, community and state to attain satisfactory sanitation in individual and social life. Sanitation is the initial move toward accomplishing the objective of primary healthcare. Sanitation should not be considered as an ignored subject, it is a vital determinant of social advancement and need to be a fundamental piece of strategy structure and improvement model. There are a few parts in the public arena which helps make sanitation as an easily proven wrong theme, for example, the vast majority of the commercial enterprises in India run without having any standard policy of waste management. No city in India can claim to have the state of the art sewage treatment plant. No river in India has immaculate water. [1] This is an impression of strategy shortfall and usage shortage in India.
In India, nonetheless, government policies were determined and overwhelmed by the bio-medical "germ theory" and health was not seen in a comprehensive and holistic perspective, the focus constantly stayed on clinical treatment of diseases. [2] A broad preventive health awareness, behavioral change and disposal of main drivers, could never discover their spot in the core health policy of the government. [3] Strong and sustainable policies, their implementation along with community participation can bring about enhancing the level of sanitation and hygiene in India to a much higher degree. Technology likewise plays a fundamental part in giving and enhancing sanitation base in rural and urban groups individually. Progression and span of economical, innovative alternatives can bring about pulling in more number of individuals toward embracing enhanced sanitation framework.
India has witnessed the achievement of Pulse Polio, which was upheld by strategic formulation of policy, massive awareness campaigns, planned implementation, wider coverage and political self-discipline. An essential driver behind overpower accomplishment of pulse polio was compelling advertisements and mass awareness alongside huge number of administrative authorities who took part at each one level of society. [4] Appropriately, to attain the sanitation objective, India needs to have refined politically and socially upheld sanitation programs which intends to reach each family unit of the nation and guarantees interest of each national.
Improvement in sanitation and hygiene certainly cannot be achieved only by launching campaigns and policies year by year. Few studies investigate reasons behind disappointing results of Total Sanitation Campaign launched in 1999. The major issues identified were: Low political priority; flawed monitoring; distorting accountability and career incentives; technocratic and paternalistic inertia; and corruption. [5],[6]
I believe that unless these problems are tackled, significant success in sanitation will remain elusive. A solid national sanitation program should be developed and following are some of the important issues which should be included and implemented.
- Adequate sanitation facility should be provided at schools
- Improved sanitation and hygiene should be emphasized as a paramount piece of the school educational program from primary level
- Country wide micro level sanitation awareness and sensitization programs should be launched with inter-department coordination
- Nongovernment organizations should be encouraged to participate in sanitation drive with induction of public-private partnership (PPP) model
- Improved methods of implementation of government policies and regular monitoring of progress
- Inclusion of latest and sustainable technology
- Improved, loud and wider campaigning across the country to create awareness
- Reduced hierarchy in sanction of funds and implementation of policies.
Sanitation and hygiene in India must be attained by the radical change of political, social and individual mentality. Government policies first target toilet use, not coverage consolidated with other ecological and environmental schemes, including safe drinking water and hand-washing. A PPP along with community involvement in the implementation can help to achieve maximum results. Improved engineering and technology likewise be figured toward giving reasonable, open and manageable sanitation framework in the country.
| References | |  |
| 1. | Nath KJ. Home hygiene and environmental sanitation: A country situation analysis for India. Int J Environ Health Res 2003;13 Suppl 1:S19-28.  |
| 2. | Najman JM. Theories of disease causation and the concept of a general susceptibility: A review. Soc Sci Med Med Psychol Med Sociol 1980;14A: 231-7. |
| 3. | Kumar SG, Jayarama S. Sustainable behavioral change related to environmental sanitation in India: Issues and challenges. Indian J Occup Environ Med 2010;14:107-8. [ PUBMED]  |
| 4. | John TJ, Vashishtha VM. Eradicating poliomyelitis: India's journey from hyperendemic to polio-free status. Indian J Med Res 2013;137:881-94. [ PUBMED] |
| 5. | Hueso A, Bell B. An untold story of policy failure: The total sanitation campaign in India. Water Policy 2013;15:1001-17. |
| 6. | Kumar SG, Jayarama S. Issues related to sanitation failure in India and future perspective. Indian J Occup Environ Med 2009;13:104. [ PUBMED] |
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