Narendra Modi Celebrates a Decade of Swachh Bharat Mission

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the Swachh Bharat Mission as the largest people's movement of the 21st century, highlighting its impact on public health. Addressing its 10-year anniversary, he emphasized mass participation and the benefits achieved, including improved sanitation, reduced child mortality, and empowered sanitation workers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised the Swachh Bharat Mission as the 21st century's largest and most successful people's movement, highlighting its substantial impact on public health and wellbeing.

Speaking at an event marking the mission's 10th anniversary, Modi emphasized the pronounced role of mass participation in transforming the campaign into a path toward national prosperity.

In his address, Modi noted that over 28 crore people had engaged in more than 27 lakh events during the 'Sewa Pakhwada'. Additionally, he inaugurated projects worth Rs 10,000 crore, part of the Swachh Bharat and AMRUT 2.0 missions, aimed at improving water and sewage treatment across multiple states.

Reflecting on the mission's legacy, Modi stated, ''When people remember 21st-century India even 1,000 years from now, they will undoubtedly recall the Swachh Bharat Mission.'' He criticized previous governments for neglecting basic sanitation issues, which he argued led to widespread public health problems and social issues.

Citing studies, Modi explained that the Swachh Bharat Mission has made impressive gains, including saving 60,000 to 70,000 children annually and improving women's safety. The World Health Organization credited the mission with saving 300,000 lives from 2014 to 2019 by reducing death rates from diarrhoea.

Modi also highlighted the newfound respect and pride for sanitation workers, urging citizens to view cleanliness as a lifelong value and to pass it onto future generations.

The Prime Minister further underscored the economic benefits of the mission, such as boosting the circular economy and creating opportunities in water and sanitation sectors. He also mentioned the significant reduction in the dropout rate among school girls, due to the construction of separate toilets in schools.

To mark the occasion, Modi participated in a cleanliness drive at a school and interacted with students, discussing the mission's benefits and urging them to maintain daily cleanliness habits and avoid plastic bags.

(With inputs from agencies.)