Swachh Bharat reduced to toilet counting: Expert

Ghosh, the first mission director of National drinking water mission, suggested that to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet project Swachh Bharat Mission successful, linkage with major government programmes like Ganga Action Plan is important along with participation of the people. 

“The Prime Minister’s effort is sincere but SBM has remained just a government scheme,” he said addressing a Forum of Environmental Journalists in India (FEJI) and UNICEF organised WASH media workshop here. 

“SBM gives an impression that it is about total sanitation. But in reality, it is a toilet counting programme in a new birth. 

Ghosh, a retired IAS officer, was responsible for the global UNICEF operations during the period the first UNICEF water policy and strategy was prepared and even coined the term WASH – water, sanitation and hygiene. 

“It is sadly an opportunity lost. I was very excited when the SBM was launched because the Prime Minister came out publicly and was sincerely committed to do something,” Ghosh said.