Swachh Bharat Mission: A Tale Of Disappearing Toilets, Vanishing Data

The CAG of India--the government's own auditor--has raised serious questions on the veracity of SBM claims in at least two states

October 2, 2018, marks the completion of the fourth and penultimate lap in a five-year sprint towards a promised clean India--a Swachh Bharat.

With a year to go, different voices, including from the finance ministry and the Economic Advisory Council, have echoed the Prime Minister’s in declaring the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) an unparalleled success. This is regardless of the fact that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India--the government’s own auditor--has raised serious questions on the veracity of SBM claims in at least two states. Many others,