The Reality of the Swacch Bharat Mission
Source: The Hindu
For Prelims: Swacch Bharat Mission, The Environment Performance Index
For Mains: General Studies II- The Reality of the Swacch Bharat Mission
Highlights of the Article
Government's Development Campaigns
Challenges in the Implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission
Reassessing the Development Model
Swacch Bharat Mission
The Environment Performance Index
Context
In 2022, India found itself ranked at the bottom among 180 countries in the Environment Performance Index (EPI). The EPI evaluates countries based on their performance in addressing climate change, environmental health, and ecosystem vitality. It assesses 40 indicators across 11 issue categories, including air quality, drinking water, and sanitation. The Indian government responded to this ranking by criticizing the methodology, arguing that it fails to accurately represent the Indian scenario.
UPSC EXAM NOTES ANALYSIS
1. Government's Development Campaigns
Over the past decade, the government has initiated several high-profile development campaigns. These include the Swachh Bharat Mission, the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, and the National Clean Air Programme. One would expect these campaigns to positively influence India's environmental performance, given their focus on improving living standards. For instance, the Swachh Bharat Mission targets issues related to Water, Sanitation, and Health (WASH). Similarly, the National Clean Air Programme aims to address clean energy needs in urban areas. However, despite these efforts, there has been a concerning trend of increased vulnerability among the population due to issues like air and water pollution. Despite the intended goals of these campaigns, the actual outcomes suggest a widening gap between environmental objectives and implementation.
2. Challenges in the Implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission
Caste Dynamics and Sanitation
The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and its successor, SBM 2.0, launched in 2021 to make all cities garbage-free, have encountered significant challenges. Sanitation and waste management in India are deeply entrenched in caste dynamics, with historically marginalized castes often compelled to perform sanitation work. Despite attempts to promote the narrative that sanitation is everyone's responsibility, the SBM has inadvertently perpetuated caste-based practices.
Issues with Implementation
While the SBM has been politically successful and faced minimal opposition, its actual implementation has raised concerns. Despite being governed and monitored by state agencies, the design of the project favors large, capital-intensive technologies. The government's claim of India being open defecation-free has been questioned, with reports highlighting poor construction quality of toilets and inadequate access to sanitation facilities, particularly in slum areas and rural regions.
Failure of Technological Solutions
Efforts to reduce manual involvement in waste management through the introduction of capital-intensive technologies have faced challenges. Waste-to-energy plants and biological methanation projects have struggled to deliver promised results, leading to issues such as poorly managed waste disposal and inadequate response to emerging health crises. City governments are investing in expensive machinery and vehicles for waste management, often outsourcing the work to private contractors, perpetuating caste discrimination in the process.
Understaffing and Neglect
Instances of understaffing and neglect further exacerbate the challenges in sanitation management. The shortage of sanitation inspectors in municipal corporations, as highlighted in the case of Shimla Municipal Corporation in Himachal Pradesh, reflects broader issues in the allocation of resources and manpower. Such deficiencies contribute to the overall failure of sanitation programs and adversely impact India's Environmental Performance Index performance.
Implications for India's EPI Performance
The shortcomings and failures in programs like the Swachh Bharat Mission have a direct bearing on India's Environmental Performance Index performance. Inadequate sanitation infrastructure, lack of proper waste management, and perpetuation of caste-based practices undermine environmental sustainability and overall well-being, highlighting the urgent need for more effective and inclusive approaches to address these challenges.
3. Reassessing the Development Model
Unsustainability Revealed by the EPI
While the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) provides a comprehensive assessment, one of its significant features is the mapping of environmental indicators, which sheds light on the unsustainability of existing development processes. This realization underscores the urgent need to reconsider and alter our development models.
Implications of Supreme Court Judgment
In the context of recent legal developments, the Supreme Court's observation on the interconnectedness of climate change and basic human rights adds weight to the imperative for reevaluating development strategies. The acknowledgement of this link underscores the need for policies and actions that prioritize environmental sustainability and safeguard fundamental human rights.
Anthropogenic and Systemic Causes
Climate scientists have consistently emphasized that the root causes of current environmental challenges are largely anthropogenic and systemic. This recognition underscores the need for fundamental changes in how societies approach development, consumption, and resource management. Addressing these underlying causes is essential for achieving long-term environmental sustainability and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.
4. Swachh Bharat Mission
The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) is a flagship initiative launched by the Government of India on October 2, 2014. It aims to achieve the vision of a Clean India by addressing sanitation and cleanliness issues across the country comprehensively.
Objectives
The primary objectives of the Swachh Bharat Mission include
- Eliminating open defecation by constructing household toilets, community toilets, and public toilets.
- Achieving 100% scientific solid waste management through segregation, collection, transportation, processing, and disposal of waste.
- Bringing about a behavioural change in the usage of toilets and proper waste disposal practices.
- Creating awareness and mobilizing communities to participate actively in cleanliness and sanitation initiatives.
- Ensuring the sustainability of sanitation infrastructure through regular maintenance and monitoring.
Implementation Strategy
The implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission involves a multi-stakeholder approach, with active participation from the central government, state governments, local bodies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector. Key strategies adopted for implementation include
- Financial incentives and support for toilet construction, especially for households below the poverty line.
- Capacity building and training of stakeholders at various levels to facilitate behaviour change and effective implementation.
- Mass communication campaigns to create awareness and promote behavioural change regarding sanitation and hygiene practices.
- Encouraging the involvement of community-based organizations, self-help groups, and volunteers in sanitation activities.
- Promoting innovative technologies and solutions for waste management, such as decentralized waste treatment plants and biogas generation from organic waste.
Achievements and Challenges
- Since its inception, the Swachh Bharat Mission has made significant progress in improving sanitation and cleanliness across India.
- Some notable achievements include the construction of millions of toilets, the declaration of numerous villages, districts, and states as open defecation-free (ODF), and increased awareness about sanitation and hygiene practices.
- However, the mission also faces several challenges, including the need for sustained behaviour change, ensuring the proper operation and maintenance of sanitation infrastructure, addressing inequalities in access to sanitation facilities, and managing solid waste effectively, particularly in urban areas.
5. The Environment Performance Index
The Environment Performance Index (EPI) is a tool used to assess and rank the environmental performance of countries worldwide. It measures various aspects related to environmental health, ecosystem vitality, and contributions to climate change mitigation and adaptation. The EPI aims to provide policymakers, researchers, and the public with valuable insights into environmental trends and policy effectiveness.
Key Components of the EPI
The EPI evaluates countries based on 40 performance indicators across 11 issue categories, including:
- Measures concentrations of pollutants such as particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the air.
- Assesses access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation facilities.
- Examines indicators related to species abundance, protected areas, and habitat conservation.
- Evaluates countries' efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to renewable energy sources.
- Assesses countries' resilience to the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events and sea-level rise.
- Measures the capacity of ecosystems to provide essential services such as water purification, soil fertility, and carbon sequestration.
- Examines emissions of pollutants such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and black carbon.
- Assesses exposure to environmental risks, including indoor and outdoor air pollution, water contamination, and chemical exposure.
- Evaluates the sustainability of fisheries management practices and the conservation of marine resources.
- Measures the environmental impacts of agricultural practices, including land use, water use, and pesticide use.
- Examines indicators related to forest cover, deforestation rates, and forest management practices.
Methodology
The EPI uses a standardized methodology to calculate scores for each country based on the performance indicators mentioned above. Countries are then ranked according to their overall environmental performance, with higher scores indicating better environmental outcomes.
Significance of the EPI
The EPI serves as a valuable tool for policymakers and stakeholders to
- Identify environmental priorities and areas requiring urgent attention.
- Track progress towards environmental goals and targets over time.
- Compare the environmental performance of different countries and regions.
- Inform policy decisions and resource allocation to address environmental challenges effectively.
- Raise public awareness about environmental issues and the need for sustainable development.
Criticism and Limitations
- Despite its utility, the EPI has faced criticism for its methodology, data availability, and weighting of indicators.
- Some argue that the EPI may not fully capture the complexities of environmental issues or adequately account for social and economic factors influencing environmental outcomes.
- Additionally, data gaps and inconsistencies across countries can affect the accuracy and reliability of EPI rankings.
6. Conclusion
There is a pressing need for comprehensive reforms and collaborative efforts to address India's environmental challenges effectively. By reorienting development strategies, enhancing policy implementation, and fostering greater awareness and participation, India can strive towards a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future.
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Mains Pratice Questions
1. Critically evaluate the effectiveness of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) in addressing sanitation challenges in India. Suggest measures to improve the implementation and impact of the mission, particularly regarding caste dynamics and waste management. (250 Words)
2. Caste dynamics play a significant role in perpetuating challenges related to sanitation in India. How does the Swachh Bharat Mission contribute to, or mitigate, these caste-based inequalities? Suggest policy measures to promote inclusive sanitation practices and address the issue of manual scavenging. (250 Words)
3. The achievement of sustainable development requires a paradigm shift in societal attitudes. Discuss the interconnections between environmental degradation, social inequalities, and economic development in the Indian context. Suggest policy measures that promote environmental sustainability while ensuring social equity. (250 Words)
4. Critically analyze the trustworthiness of international reports and their impact on developing countries like India. How do these reports influence global perceptions of environmental performance and development efforts? (250 Words)
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