Missions and Public Priorities

Missions are targeted responses to clearly defined public priorities, aimed at addressing critical challenges through structured interventions. The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) is one such initiative, focusing on India's sanitation and waste management issues.

Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)

• Objective: A time-bound, outcome-driven intervention that utilizes focused administrative attention, public participation, and sustained financial commitment to tackle sanitation and waste management challenges.
• Evolution: Initially a campaign-style intervention, SBM-U has evolved into a more institutionalized urban governance approach.

Funding and Achievements

• Rural Component: Received an outlay of ₹1.5 lakh crore for its two phases.
• Urban Component: Received ₹1,41,600 crore in its second phase for infrastructure and system improvements.
• Targets Achieved: Successful provision of individual household latrines (IHHLs), community, and public toilets. Behavioral change campaigns were part of the mission to promote public awareness.
• Waste Processing: Over 81% of 1,62,162 tonnes per day (TPD) of solid waste is processed, compared to only 16% in 2014.

Challenges and Future Directions

• Remaining Challenges: Sustaining freedom from open defecation is an ongoing issue.
• SBM-U 2.0 (2021-26): Continues efforts to achieve garbage-free city status through scientific waste management practices.
• Remediation of legacy waste and the launch of the Dumpsite Remediation Acceleration Programme (DRAP) for fast-tracking remediation.

Budgetary Adjustments and Strategic Shifts

• Budget Cuts: A 25% reduction in allocation for SBM, with a sharper 50% cut for the urban component.
• Strategic Shift: Indicates a move from standalone mission funding to broader integration within urban development planning.
• Focus on Tier-2 and -3 Cities: Emphasis on creating modern infrastructure and ensuring basic amenities in smaller cities and temple towns.

Urban Development Initiatives

• City Economic Regions (CERs): Seven regions envisaged for the next five years, alongside regional medical hubs.
• Urban Challenge Fund (UCF): A ₹1 lakh crore fund introduced to support urban transformation efforts.

Financial Empowerment and Integration

• 16th Finance Commission Grant: ₹3,56,257 crore recommended to bridge fiscal gaps, with cities' share increased to 45% and incentives for revenue mobilization.
• Municipal Bond Issuance: Incentives for bond issuance above ₹1,000 crore to encourage market finance access and strengthen urban resilience.

Conclusion

The ultimate success of SBM lies in integrating its objectives of safe sanitation, clean surroundings, and improved quality of life within a broader, sustainable urban development framework. The budget sets the direction towards this larger, though still unfinished, promise.