Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: 10 Inspiring Facts About India's Clean India Mission

The Clean India Mission of India: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan's Top 10 Facts

The Indian government started the major national program known as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, or Clean India Mission, in 2014. Here are some intriguing details about this current project that you might not be aware of:

1. Inaugural & Goals:  On the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's birth, October 2, 2014, the project was formally inaugurated. Its goal was to make India clean by October 2, 2019, the anniversary of Gandhi's birth.

2. Price & Size: The project's enormous expense, estimated at over ₹62,000 crore (US$8.8 billion), is quite ambitious.  It encompasses more than 4,000 Indian statutory towns.

3. City & Country Focus:  There are two sides to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan campaign. While Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Urban concentrates on cleanliness in cities and towns, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Gramin addresses sanitation in rural areas.

4. Acclaim and Recognition:  Notable Indian figures provided substantial support for the expedition. Stars like Akshay Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, and Sachin Tendulkar strongly pushed the campaign. 

5. The Tidiest Cities:  The Abhiyan's Swachh Survekshan Survey is a crucial component. The cleanest capital city was determined to be Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, and the cleanest major city (population over one million) to be Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

6. Youth Focus:  A sub-initiative called the Bal Swachhta Abhiyan (Child Cleanliness Mission) aims to encourage young people to practice cleanliness by focusing on schools and students in particular.

7. Schools:  In 2014, a 36-day campaign called "Swachh Bharat-Swachh Vidyalaya" (Clean India-Clean School) sought to enhance hygiene in Indian schools. 

8. Government Assistance:  To enhance sanitary infrastructure, the Abhiyan gave households installing home toilets ₹12,000 (US$170) in financial support.

9. Management of Waste:   Under the mission, the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) was entrusted with creating appropriate waste disposal systems for government institutions. 

10. Continuous Purpose:  Even though the original 2019 target date has passed, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan initiative is still in place to promote cleanliness and sanitation across India.

A major national initiative that has significantly advanced India's cleanliness efforts is the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.  These data demonstrate the mission's wide reach, magnitude, and significance.