Sudipta Mohanty, Researcher - Urban Governance

Sanitation entails ensuring a hygienic environment to eliminate diseases and health issues. But we find the Swachh Bharat Mission predominantly focused only on the construction of toilets. As a result, the complex problem of sanitation is reduced to the provision of household toilets, leading to the neglect of many crucial components such as the containment and treatment of human faeces, and the management of waste and waste water.

CAG’s Zero Waste Team visited Thanal in Trivandrum team to understand how Thanal has been instrumental in helping the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation set up an effective zero waste management system in place. The visit introduced the team to the challenges and opportunities of working at a city scale.

The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), India’s sanitation programme states that it aims to reduce health and sanitation vulnerabilities among the poor through access to toilets. However, we find that far from minimising vulnerabilities, the scheme seems to exploit their vulnerabilities to gain publicity and political support.

The issue of access is a vital one when it comes to government schemes. In this blog, we investigate how inclusive is a flagship scheme such as the Swacch Bharat Mission, a scheme that aims to solve the problem of sanitation countrywide.

From the lack of attention to sewage connections or treatment plants to the poor quality of toilets and zero attempt to convert insanitary toilets, we find that the Swachh Bharat Mission’s attention on construction of toilets leaves much to desire for making sanitation available to all.

This is a series of basic FAQS to help debunk common misconceptions about waste management and clarify doubts that stop citizens from doing their bit in taking responsibility for their own waste. While there are many more aspects to waste management, these FAQs focus on (de)centralised system of waste management and composting.

Given the scale and complexity of the waste problem in Chennai, it may be necessary for the city to encourage social enterprises that could help reduce the amount and types of waste that is sent to landfills.

The controversial Timarpur-Okhla incineration plant in New Delhi could serve as an example of why incineration is not the answer to Chennai's solid waste problem.