GLOBAL STUDY ON SWACCH BHARAT MISSION (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Health)

Context: A global study by leading experts highlights that the Swachh Bharat Mission has significantly reduced infant mortality rates in India.

Key Findings of Global Study

• Scale of Impact: Post-2014 SBM implementation led to over 117 million toilets being built, with each 10% increase in toilet access linked to a reduction in IMR by 0.9 points and U5MR by 1.1 points.
• Threshold Effect: Districts with over 30% toilet coverage saw significant reductions: 5.3 in IMR and 6.8 in U5MR per thousand live births, potentially saving 60,000-70,000 infant lives annually.
• SBM’s Unique Approach: SBM's strategy combined toilet construction with extensive IEC and community engagement, a departure from previous, less comprehensive sanitation initiatives.
• Novel Evidence of Impact: The study provides new evidence of SBM’s role in reducing infant and child mortality, highlighting its effectiveness as a national sanitation program.
• Broader Public Health Benefits: Increased toilet access likely reduced exposure to pathogens, decreasing diarrhea and malnutrition rates, which are major contributors to child mortality in India.

Swachh Bharat Mission

• About: It is the world’s largest sanitation initiative was launched by the Prime Minister of India in 2014.
• Aim: To achieve an Open Defecation Free India by October 2, 2019, as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
• The mission was split into two: Rural and Urban.