Swachh Bharat Mission: Creating jobs, transforming lives

In 2014, India took a collective pledge to ensure cleanliness, health, and hygiene for all its citizens through the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). This nationwide campaign, driven by the vision of a clean India, has transformed sanitation across both urban and rural landscapes, making cleanliness a priority for millions. By promoting sustainable waste management practices, the mission has empowered communities, improved public health, and sparked a cultural shift towards hygiene. A study in Nature estimated that the SBM programme has been instrumental in averting 60,000–70,000 infant deaths annually since its launch. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, by 2025, an additional 677.3 million people in India are expected to benefit from improved health and well-being compared to 2018. Swachh Bharat Mission While the impact of SBM on public health has been widely documented, its contribution extends far beyond. When governments and communities invest in public…