From the start of the “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” in 2014, Gujarat has remained the only Indian state to have fulfilled all its obligations under the programme. The programme was launched on 2 October 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The programme, which covers 4,041 statutory cities and towns of India, aims to accomplish Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of a clean India by 2 October 2019, his 150th birth anniversary. The Mahatma Gandhi Swachhata Mission (MGSM), the Gujarat government’s initiative, has been successful in helping it meet its obligations under the “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan”.
Gujarat’s Progress
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the nation-wide Swachh Bharat Mission, Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel gave a clarion call and launched a statewide “Swachhata Abhiyaan”. She has focused on spreading awareness about the significance of cleanliness and has been encouraging children, rural women and all sections of society to contribute in the making of “Swachh Gujarat”. In “Gatisheel Gujarat 3”, focus was laid on various activities including construction of individual toilets and public toilets across rural areas of the state. Through the MGSM, Gujarat leads in implementing objectives of the “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan”. Some of the prominent landmarks are:
Under MGSM, Gujarat has already constructed 12 lakh individual toilets.
3,09,575 individual toilets were constructed by the Gujarat government under the urban initiative of MGSM which is 70% of the total constructed in India so far.
Under the rural initiative of MGSM, 3,088 Gram Panchayats in Gujarat have reported 100% completion of individual toilets, with over 8,36,139 individual toilets having been built.
Gujarat is first in solid waste management across India and has a well-planned activity to collect and dispose solid waste in 120 cities out of 195 across the state.
Arrangements have been made to ensure 100% door-to-door solid waste collection in 1,525 wards (out of a total 1,730 wards) of 145 local bodies (out of total 170).
Gujarat was awarded the “Best State” for cleanliness, at the “India Today Conclave”, held on 6 November 2015.