Which key goal does the Swachh Bharat Mission focus on?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
Sanitation and hygiene
Explanation
The primary focus of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Mission) is to accelerate sanitation coverage and improve public hygiene across both rural and urban areas of India. Launched by the Government of India on October 2, 2014, to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, it is recognized as one of the largest mass-mobilization cleanliness campaigns in the world.
The core objectives of the mission include eliminating the practice of open defecation through the construction of household-owned and community-owned toilets, bringing about behavioral changes in people regarding sanitation practices, and establishing efficient solid and liquid waste management systems. The campaign emphasizes that improving public sanitation directly reduces the spread of waterborne diseases and enhances the overall health and dignity of citizens, especially women.
Key Points
The mission was divided into two distinct sub-missions: Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) managed by the Ministry of Jal Shakti for rural areas, and Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) managed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for cities.
Following the achievement of Open Defecation Free (ODF) status in the first phase, the government launched Phase-II focusing on ODF Plus, which ensures that ODF behaviors are sustained and all villages/cities manage their solid and liquid waste effectively.
Other options like digital literacy, clean drinking water, and skill development are handled by separate flagship government programs, namely Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA), Jal Jeevan Mission, and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) respectively.
Important Questions and Answers
Question: Which government scheme specifically targets providing tap water connections to rural households, separate from the Swachh Bharat Mission?
Answer: The Jal Jeevan Mission is the dedicated program aimed at providing safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections.
Question: On which birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi was the Swachh Bharat Mission officially launched in 2014?
Answer: It was launched on the 145th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi (with the target of achieving a clean India by his 150th birth anniversary in 2019)