Swachh Bharath Abhiyaan: Some Efforts of Grama Panchayaths in Dakshina Kannada District of Karnataka

In adequate sanitation and unscientific management of wastes created serious issues like poor health, the spread of epidemic diseases, ecological imbalance, and a threat to biodiversity, pollutions and many other local and global environmental problems. According to the World Bank (Yojana, November 2018), India loses 6.4 percent of GDP annually because of this particular reason. The clean and healthy environment only keeps our body and soul clean. In order to fulfill Mahatma Gandhi's dream of a clean and hygienic India since independence so many programmes have been launched Honorable Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi launched Swachh Bharath Mission on 15th August 2014, from the ramparts of the Red Fort and set a target to build a clean and open defecation free India by 2019, the 150th Birth anniversary year of Mahatma Gandhi, as a befitting tribute. The objective of Swachh Bharat Mission, launched by Prime Minister on October 2, 2014, is to make human life cleaner, healthier and dignified. Cleanliness is not only a life-force but also the cornerstone of human development. No community and society can be successful untill it is clean. The goals related to education, health, poverty alleviation, human development, etc. cannot be achieved in the absence of cleanliness. As we have completed nearly five years of the scheme, 39 percent rural sanitation coverage has increased to a phenomenal 92 percent. This involved a behavioral change of the people. To achieve the goal both rural and urban local governments have to take the initiatives. In this background, this research article analyses the efforts of Grama Panchayaths in Dakshina Kannada District to manage solid waste.