The Illusion of a Clean India

What is the issue?

• The “Swachh Bharat campaign” - SBM is to make India clean but the people who actually clean have been kept out.
• The mission has thus far failed to even diagnose what is wrong.

Why is the campaign illogical?

• Cleaning India is not a spiritual experience and merely preaching that ‘cleanliness is godliness’ cannot achieve substantial.
• Coming out with brooms and cleaning for a day with literally no responsibility for the rest of the days is at best a photo opportunity.
• Castist overtones associated with cleaning jobs is a major hindrance for wider participation in the cause.
• Thus far, the campaign has been nothing more than a mere promotion of an illusion.

What are the issues with the Toilet for All campaign?

• People are not using toilets because they neither have access nor the capacity to use one.
• Organising campaigns to shame them into using toilets by appointing whistle-blowers isn’t the solution. 
• Also, the mode of financing for the project has pushed those living on the margins into debt traps as costs are reimbursed after the construction.
• Hence, the campaign on toilets has shown complete insensitivity and this needs to be tuned to address the issues at the grassroots.

What does the mission lack?

• To clean the country, understanding the problems of those who have spent a lifetime cleaning the country is necessary.
• Despite the Constitution declaring the abolition of untouchability, it is still practised by perpetuating occupations such as scavenging.
• Only certain communities have been involved in the cleaning jobs for the last 4,000 years.
• Often, there is news about people dying in manholes after being ordered to clean them.
• There seems to be no concern for people who have given up their lives in keeping Bharat clean. 
• Without breaking this vicious chain, those who actually make Bharat swachh will never truly be a part of the campaign.
• A mission without the ones who have championed the cause on board is bound to fail.

What is the way ahead?

• The solution therefore lies in abolishing manual scavenging, modernising the sewer lines and septic tanks.
• Investing money and energy on smart techniques of sanitation also needs to taken up for a sustained solution.

Source: The Hindu