Role of Technology in Success of Rural Sanitation Revolution in India

Swachh Bharat Mission - Gramin (SBM-G), translated in English as Clean India Mission - Rural, is a nation-wide campaign in India that aims to achieve universal sanitation coverage by October 02, 2019. Launched by Prime Minister of India on October 02, 2014, this programme is being implemented by the state governments under financial assistance and technical support of Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS), Government of India, which is the nodal agency for its implementation. SBM-G is one of the largest behaviour change programme in the world, and the evidence shows it is on track to achieve its objectives. Sanitation coverage in rural India has increased from less than 40 per cent in 2014 to over 94 per cent by the end of fourth year of the programme, as more than 500 million people have adopted safe sanitation and given up open defecation. Political will and leadership, and the strategy to emphasise on sustainability, differentiated SBM-G from previous sanitation programmes in India. An equally important contributor to the success of the programme, has been the effective use of technology during its various stages of implementation. Execution of the programme has been monitored and evaluated through a web based e-Governance solution (http://sbm.gov.in). Up to date information about 157 million beneficiaries and status of their household toilet facilities made available by the SBM-G database, formed the foundation that enabled all participating stakeholders to monitor and evaluate the progress in an efficient, effective and transparent manner. Social media and digital technologies have also been innovatively utilized in creating a mass cleanliness movement by engaging citizens, disseminating information, and organizing and managing all field level activities. This experience paper describes how ICT was used to support the implementation of SBM-G. It also attempts to highlight key lessons in use of technology for other similar programmes, globally.