Opinion | Clean India Mission: Impact in Jammu and Kashmir

Cleanliness in India is more than an act of hygiene; it has always been a deeply moral and spiritual duty. For Mahatma Gandhi, it stood alongside truth and non-violence as a pillar of a healthy society, a way to honour oneself and the community. Ancient Indian traditions and Buddhist teachings alike have long drawn a link between physical cleanliness and inner purity, urging people to consume mindfully, waste nothing, and treat natural resources as sacred. In islamic hadiths, it’s inscribed that “Cleanliness is half the faith” meaning taking care of cleanliness is taking care of your spirituality. It is on this ethical and cultural foundation that the Clean India Mission, or Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, was launched on 2 October 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rajghat, New Delhi, in tribute to Gandhi’s vision. From its inception, the mission was presented not as a government project, but as a collective responsibility—a people’s movement where every citizen is a stakeholder in the nation’s health.

Defecating in the fields had always been something that has troubled Indian citizens as it is host to many lethal diseases; The first phase of clean India Mission between 2014 and 2019 set out to end open defecation, eradicate manual scavenging, and ensure that every household had access to a toilet. Rural toilet coverage rose from 39 per cent in 2014 to 100 per cent by 2019, and India declared itself Open Defecation Free eleven years ahead of the UN’s sanitation target. The second phase, running from 2020 to 2025, broadened its scope to focus on solid and liquid waste management, with a push for segregation at source, composting, recycling, and safe disposal. The introduction of door-to-door waste collection vans brought the effort quite literally to people’s doorsteps, making it easier for households to dispose of their waste responsibly rather than dumping it in public spaces or water bodies. Hearing those sirens is like having an everyday wake up call that prompts you to act mindfully. Besides this, many public places and colleges are equipped with different dustbins segregating the waste into bio-degradable and non bio-degradable at primary level.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the transformation has been especially striking, though not without its challenges. Before 2014, only 20.38 per cent of households in the region had toilets, making it one of the least covered states and union territories in India. By 2025, over 18.29 lakh individual household latrines have been constructed, with rural toilet coverage now officially at 100 per cent and all villages declared Open Defecation Free. Alongside this, the region has seen the establishment of 6,535 waste segregation sheds, 50,000 dustbins, 23,826 soak pits, 12,308 compost pits, and 5,527 sanitary complexes. The presence of waste collection vans visiting neighborhoods has made it possible for every household to participate in responsible disposal, an important step in keeping streets and waterways clean. On top of that government has set a fine ranging from 150-500 rupees per person, if somebody is seen doing the offense of urination, defecating or littering, in the open.

The mission has always been about more than infrastructure. It calls on citizens to embrace civic responsibility, recognising that public spaces are shared assets whose upkeep depends on everyone’s daily habits. It encourages mindfulness in consumption, prompting individuals to think before they buy, use, or discard something, to reduce plastic use, and to value reusables. Segregating waste at the source not only prevents environmental damage but also turns potential trash into valuable resources through composting and recycling. Equally important is the respect and dignity extended to sanitation workers, dismantling the caste-based stigma that has long surrounded this essential work. Cleanliness becomes a way to connect communities, as neighbourhoods organise clean-up drives and work together towards common goals, turning what was once seen as menial labour into an act of shared pride. Cleanliness brings all of us together regardless of the caste or religion, the clean india Mission has uplifted the people primarily responsible for our cleanliness as respectable and dignified as opposed to the previous notion based on caste and sections.

The environmental and health benefits of this approach are profound. Cleaner streets and improved waste management reduce the need to burn garbage, cutting harmful fumes and improving air quality. The proper treatment of sewage and waste keeps rivers, lakes, and groundwater free from contamination, which in turn lowers the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery. By reducing exposure to faecal matter and disease-causing agents, the mission has freed communities from preventable illnesses, cut medical costs, and improved mental well-being. Cleaner surroundings not only protect physical health but also boost tourism, attract investment, and lift the overall quality of life. Cleaner colleges have helped students be more productive and creative.

Still, the picture is mixed. Some waste segregation sheds have fallen into disuse or turned into dumping grounds due to poor management, lack of awareness, and weak enforcement. In certain communities, toilets remain unused or exist only on paper, and cultural attitudes towards waste and sanitation are slow to change. Without consistent behavioural shifts, infrastructure alone cannot sustain the mission’s gains. The progress made in cleaner streets, reduced disease risks, safer public spaces for women, and cleaner water sources could be undermined if awareness and community participation are not strengthened.

The road ahead in Jammu and Kashmir, as in the rest of the country, lies in deepening this civic and mindful culture. Public education campaigns must explain not just how to use the facilities, but why it matters for health, dignity, and the environment. Schools can play a central role in shaping the next generation’s attitudes towards waste, while community monitoring can ensure that what has been built remains functional and respected. The vans may arrive at our doors and the toilets may stand ready, but the true measure of success will be in whether citizens open their doors with the right mindset—handing over their waste not just as rubbish to be taken away, but as part of a shared commitment to a cleaner, healthier India.

The writer Is an author, columnist, speaker and a mental health advocate pursuing bachelor’s at Amar Singh College. He can be reached at musaibbilal.216061@gmail.com