Swachh Bharat Kosh

The Swachh Bharat Kosh (SBK) is a dedicated fund established by the Government of India to facilitate contributions from individuals, corporate entities, and philanthropic organisations towards achieving the objectives of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) — India’s flagship programme for cleanliness, sanitation, and hygiene. The Kosh serves as a financial instrument to support activities that improve sanitation coverage and promote behavioural change towards cleanliness across the country.

Background and Establishment

The Swachh Bharat Mission was launched by the Prime Minister of India on 2 October 2014, commemorating the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who had envisioned a clean and hygienic India. The mission aimed to eliminate open defecation, manage solid and liquid waste effectively, and promote a culture of cleanliness by 2 October 2019, marking 150 years of Gandhi’s birth.
To mobilise additional resources beyond budgetary allocations, the Swachh Bharat Kosh was set up in November 2014 under the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. It functions as a transparent mechanism for channelising voluntary contributions to support sanitation and cleanliness initiatives under both rural and urban components of the Swachh Bharat Mission.

Objectives of the Swachh Bharat Kosh

The primary objectives of the SBK are to:

• Mobilise voluntary financial contributions from individuals, companies, and institutions for sanitation-related activities.
• Support the construction of Individual Household Latrines (IHHLs) for Below Poverty Line (BPL) and identified Above Poverty Line (APL) households that do not receive government subsidies.
• Promote innovative and community-based projects related to cleanliness, solid waste management, and hygiene awareness.
• Strengthen information, education, and communication (IEC) activities to bring behavioural change in sanitation practices.
• Encourage Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) participation in the national cleanliness movement.

Legal and Administrative Framework

The Swachh Bharat Kosh was constituted under Section 20 of the Companies Act, 2013, and is governed by a set of transparent administrative and financial procedures.
Key Features of Governance:

• The Kosh is managed by a Governing Council, chaired by the Secretary, Department of Expenditure (Ministry of Finance).
• The Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (now Ministry of Jal Shakti) and the Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs are members representing rural and urban components respectively.
• A Secretariat under the Department of Expenditure administers the fund, processes project proposals, and monitors implementation.
• The fund operates under public account management principles, ensuring accountability and audit compliance.

All receipts and expenditures from the Kosh are subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.

Sources of the Fund

The Swachh Bharat Kosh receives contributions from various public and private sources, including:

• Voluntary donations from individuals and resident Indians.
• Corporate contributions under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) provisions of the Companies Act, 2013.
• Philanthropic foundations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and trusts.
• Contributions from Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs).
• Interest accrued on unutilised balances in the fund.

Donations made to the SBK are eligible for 100% tax exemption under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961, encouraging wider public participation.

Areas of Utilisation

Funds collected in the Swachh Bharat Kosh are utilised to support a wide range of sanitation and hygiene-related activities under the Swachh Bharat Mission. Major areas of utilisation include:

1. Construction of Household Toilets:
   • Providing financial assistance to households not covered under government schemes for toilet construction.
   • Prioritising economically weaker sections and rural areas to eliminate open defecation.
2. School and Community Sanitation:
   • Construction and maintenance of toilets in schools, anganwadis, and public places to ensure sanitation access for all.
3. Solid and Liquid Waste Management:
   • Supporting waste segregation, recycling, and scientific disposal projects in both rural and urban areas.
4. Awareness and Behavioural Change Campaigns:
   • Funding communication programmes that educate citizens about hygiene, waste management, and cleanliness.
5. Innovative Pilot Projects:
   • Supporting technologies for faecal sludge management, biogas generation, and sanitation entrepreneurship.
6. Public Health and Cleanliness Initiatives:
   • Promoting cleanliness drives, health camps, and capacity-building workshops in partnership with local bodies and NGOs.

Implementation Mechanism

The projects funded by the Swachh Bharat Kosh are implemented through relevant ministries and state agencies responsible for the Swachh Bharat Mission.

• For rural areas, implementation is carried out by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• For urban areas, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) coordinates activities through local municipal bodies and state governments.

Proposals from NGOs, civil society organisations, and corporate contributors are examined by the Governing Council before approval and funding.

Achievements and Impact

Since its inception, the Swachh Bharat Kosh has played a vital role in supplementing the government’s sanitation efforts:

• Supported the construction of thousands of household toilets and community sanitation facilities.
• Mobilised substantial contributions from corporates and individuals towards the Swachh Bharat Mission.
• Enabled the inclusion of households that were ineligible for government subsidies, ensuring universal coverage.
• Financed mass awareness campaigns such as “Swachhata Hi Seva” and “Darwaza Band”, promoting cleanliness and behavioural transformation.
• Encouraged private sector innovation and participation in sanitation technologies and solid waste management.

Notable Contributors

Several public and private entities have contributed to the Swachh Bharat Kosh as part of their CSR initiatives. Notable contributors include public sector undertakings (PSUs), banks, private corporations, and charitable trusts. Contributions from Indian citizens abroad (NRIs) have also been significant, reflecting global engagement in India’s cleanliness drive.

Challenges

Despite its success, the Swachh Bharat Kosh faces certain challenges:

• Uneven fund utilisation across states due to administrative delays.
• Limited awareness among citizens about the existence of the fund and avenues for contribution.
• Dependence on voluntary donations, which fluctuate annually.
• Monitoring and impact assessment of funded projects require further strengthening.

Enhanced transparency, better coordination, and digital tracking mechanisms are being implemented to address these concerns.

Integration with Swachh Bharat Mission

The Swachh Bharat Kosh operates as a financial catalyst for the broader Swachh Bharat Mission, which has two main components:

1. Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) – Rural sanitation managed by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
2. Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) – Urban sanitation managed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

The Kosh supplements these efforts by funding projects beyond government allocations, focusing on inclusivity and sustainability.

Significance

The Swachh Bharat Kosh represents the spirit of public-private partnership and citizen participation in nation-building. It channels collective responsibility towards achieving a clean and healthy environment. By promoting sanitation and hygiene, the fund contributes directly to:

• Public health improvement,
• Environmental sustainability, and
• Achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation.