Swachh Bharat: policy brief on rural sanitation and urban solid waste management in India
On 15 August 2014, the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, announced the intention to launch a new mission, Swachh Bharat, on 2 October 2014, Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary. Intended to last until 2 October 2019, when India will celebrate Gandhiji's 150th birth anniversary, Swachh Bharat is a targeted mission to build a clean, hygienic and healthy India with adequate sanitation facilities and, more importantly, dignity for all Indians. This policy paper is a contribution from the Council on Energy, Environment and Water towards developing the vision and action plan for this ambitious but much needed mission. This paper envisions Swachh Bharat as "Kachhra Mukta, Shouchalya Yukt Bharat". Drawing on extensive literature and analysis, the paper outlines specific interventions, estimates the associated costs, and offers a detailed phase-wise roadmap to fulfil the Mission.