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On World Health Day (April 7), India celebrates how much progress it has made.

News in Detail

On World Health Day (April 7), India is celebrating how much progress it has made in health and sanitation. These two things—health and sanitation—are not separate but work together to keep people healthy.

How India Changed?

The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) , have made a huge difference in rural India.

• In 2014, PM Modi started the Swachh Bharat Mission to end open defecation (people going to the bathroom outside). By 2019, India declared itself Open Defecation Free (ODF) —a huge achievement that happened 11 years ahead of the global goal.
• The Jal Jeevan Mission started in 2019 to bring clean drinking water to every home through taps. This mission helps families stay healthy and saves time, especially for women who used to walk long distances to fetch water.

India has made huge progress in providing clean water and toilets. These efforts aim to ensure dignity, health, and make life better for everyone. They’re about changing how people live and think.

Why Sanitation and Water Are So Important?

Sanitation and clean water are the first steps to staying healthy. They protect people from diseases, help children grow stronger, and give women more freedom.

• A study by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that improved sanitation has saved over 300,000 lives from diarrheal diseases since 2014.
• Clean water prevents infections and reduces infant deaths. For example, if every family gets tap water, up to 1.36 lakh child deaths can be avoided each year.
• Women feel safer and healthier when they have toilets at home. One study found that 93% of women felt safer after getting a toilet , and families saved Rs 50,000 annually on healthcare costs because they got sick less often.
• Better sanitation also protects the environment. Villages with toilets have 12.7 times less chance of groundwater contamination , which keeps water sources clean for future generations.

Current Status

Over 80% of rural households in India have tap water connections , and 96% of villages are ODF Plus meaning they manage waste well too.

Waste management systems now exist in over 5 lakh villages, keeping both solid and liquid waste under control.

Women play a big role in this success. Over 2.48 million women have been trained to test water quality, and many lead groups that manage sanitation projects, recycling centers, and even produce sanitary napkins. These women are leaders in their communities, showing others how to stay clean and healthy.

While India has made great progress, there are still challenges:

• Many rural areas still don’t have enough piped water.
• Some people don’t use toilets because they don’t understand their importance.
• Poorly built toilets and lack of maintenance remain problems.

To resolve these issues, the government works with different ministries—like health, education, and rural development—to ensure that everyone benefits from clean water and sanitation.

Global Significance

Work on sanitation and water doesn’t just help Indians—it sets an example for other countries, especially developing nations.

Innovations like real-time dashboards to track progress, biogas plants that turn waste into energy, and plastic waste management units are ideas other countries can copy.

Every rupee spent on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) brings huge returns. It improves health, boosts productivity, promotes gender equality, and protects the environment.

Way Forward

Good health starts at home, not in hospitals. When people have access to clean water, safe toilets, and proper waste management, they live healthier, happier lives. India’s journey demonstrates that small changes—like building a toilet or installing a tap—can produce great results. As India moves forward, it continues to share its lessons with the world, to work toward a cleaner, healthier planet.

Must Read Articles: 

SWACHH BHARAT MISSION (SBM)

10 YEARS OF SWACHH BHARAT MISSION

JAL JEEVAN MISSION

SIGNIFICANCE OF JAL JEEVAN MISSION

Source: 

THE HINDU