Retrofit Swachh Bharat To Covid

Context: Key lessons from Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) for effective Covid management.

About Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)

• Launched in 2014 with the aim of eradicating open defecation by October 2019.
• 11 crores toilets constructed in record time
• Largest behavioural change programme: Riding on community engagement and ground-level communication.

Lessons for Covid management

• Address vulnerabilities of population: Rumours, myths and misconceptions in rural population and information overload on the urban citizenry.
  • Ensure information percolation: Regarding wearing masks correctly, isolation, testing, doctor consultations, vaccinations, social distancing etc.
  • Overcome language barriers: Decision to have CoWIN platform in regional languages marks the right beginning.
  • Employ behaviour influencers: SBM employed celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar and created relatable character like ‘Salesman Saucha Singh’ on radio.
  • Address vaccine hesitancy and other technical barriers: Arising from poor digital literacy and insufficient connectivity by including doorstep and walk-in jabs at some stage.
• Adopt decentralisation approach:
  • Rework PM-CM-DM-VM (village mukhia) model of SBM: Fulcrum for Covid-free India has to be gram panchayat and gram sabha with sarpanch as a chief crusader.
  • Expand Kerala success model: Where Covid fight is led by panchayats with their own war rooms, call centres, rapid response teams and brigade of volunteers.
  • Address financial constraints of Panchayats: Implement substantial devolution of funds by 15th Finance Commission.
  • Reorient 6.25 lakh SBM footsoldiers — Swachhagrahis: To add true strength to the efforts of Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), Anganwadi and ASHA workers.
• Leverage wider engagement:
  • Making Covid fight a collective enterprise:g. NITI Aayog reached out to more than one lakh civil society organisations.
  • Mobilise youth outfits: Like National Service Scheme (NSS), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), National Cadet Corps (NCC), and school and college communities. Implement programs like SBM Summer Internship.