• The Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen, launched on October 2, 2014, resulted in the construction of over 11 crore household toilets by 2020, with more than six lakh villages declared Open Defecation Free (ODF), according to official data. Similarly, under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban, over 63 lakh individual household toilets and 6.36 lakh community public toilets were constructed.
• A study revealed a significant decrease in infant mortality due to increased access to sanitation. Districts with even 30% toilet coverage saw a notable reduction in infant mortality, preventing around 60,000-70,000 deaths annually.
• In 2012, the infant mortality rate was 40 deaths per 1,000 live births per district, which dropped to about 33 in 2016, and further declined below 30 by 2019. The under-five mortality rate also fell, from around 44 per 1,000 live births in 2012 to below 30 in 2019.
• The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), initiated by the Prime Minister on October 2, 2014, aimed to provide universal sanitation coverage and eliminate open defecation across the country. The government boosted toilet infrastructure by offering financial support for the construction of household and community toilets, especially for slum and migrant populations.
• The second phase of SBM, launched in 2020 and continuing until 2025, focuses on maintaining the progress made in phase one and advancing the management of liquid and solid waste through technological innovation and private sector involvement

The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is a key health indicator that measures the number of deaths of infants under one year of age per 1,000 live births in a given year or population. It is used to assess the overall health of a population and the effectiveness of healthcare systems, particularly in areas such as maternal and child health, sanitation, and disease prevention.

A lower IMR typically indicates better healthcare, nutrition, and living conditions, while a higher IMR suggests challenges in these areas

Follow Up Question

As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, which one of the following statements is correct? (UPSC CSE 2019)

(a) Waste generator has to segregate waste into five categories.

(b) The Rules are applicable to notified urban local bodies, notified towns and all industrial townships only

(c) The Rules provide for exact and elaborate criteria for the identification of sites for landfills and waste processing facilities.

(d) It is mandatory on the part of the waste generator that the waste generated in one district cannot be moved to another district.

(c) The Rules provide for exact and elaborate criteria for the identific Share to Social IMPM KEYS Plans You need Login/Register first. Login Register Close Total Attempted: Not Attempted: Mark as Review: Submit Close Register now Sign Up Already have an account? Sign In Continue with google Close