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.