Question

“In India, the Swachh Bharat Mission is launched to improve the quality of life in urban slums.” Evaluate the statement.

Hint:

The Swachh Bharat Mission focuses on clean sanitation, waste management, and infrastructure improvement to uplift the quality of life in urban slums.

Answer 1

The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) was launched in India to improve sanitation and promote cleanliness, particularly in urban slums and rural areas. It aims to achieve the vision of a clean India by 2 October 2019, with a focus on eliminating open defecation, promoting solid and liquid waste management, and improving the overall quality of life. This mission has a significant impact on urban slums, and its objectives can be evaluated based on the following points:
- Improving Sanitation: One of the key objectives of SBM is to improve sanitation, especially in slums. The mission focuses on constructing toilets, providing waste management facilities, and ensuring clean surroundings. It helps reduce health risks associated with poor sanitation, such as waterborne diseases.
- Public Awareness and Education: SBM promotes public awareness and encourages citizens to maintain cleanliness. In urban slums, many people were not aware of the benefits of sanitation practices. By educating people, the mission fosters community participation in cleanliness activities.
- Waste Management: SBM also includes solid waste management. Urban slums often face challenges regarding waste collection and disposal. The mission emphasizes waste segregation, recycling, and better waste collection systems, improving the quality of life.
- Infrastructure Development: The SBM program also focuses on improving urban infrastructure, such as roads, drains, and sewage systems. This infrastructure development helps create a cleaner environment in urban slums and prevents environmental degradation.
- Challenges in Implementation: While SBM has brought positive changes, challenges still exist. These include inadequate resources in certain areas, lack of awareness, and the absence of proper monitoring. Despite these challenges, SBM has made significant strides in improving sanitation in urban slums. In conclusion, the Swachh Bharat Mission has played an essential role in improving the quality of life in urban slums, addressing sanitation, waste management, and public awareness issues. While progress has been made, further efforts are needed to ensure complete success.