Ten Years of Swachh Bharat Mission: The Rise of Sanitation Startups

Imagine a world where toilets aren't just basic necessities but become hubs of innovation, driving social change and economic growth. Seems far-fetched?

Think again.

Ten years ago, on Gandhi Jayanti, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), a nationwide campaign that, while aiming to improve sanitation and hygiene, inadvertently sparked a revolution in India's startup ecosystem. Who knew that the toilet could become a catalyst for technological disruption? Well! This is a story that happened over a decade!

Today, TICE explores how the SBM fueled the rise of sanitation startups in India, examining their impact, the challenges they face, and the exciting opportunities that lie ahead.

SBM: Creating a Fertile Ground for Innovation

The SBM's ambitious goals – to eliminate open defecation and improve waste management – required a massive overhaul of India's sanitation infrastructure. This, in turn, created a fertile ground for startups to emerge and offer innovative solutions. The key initiatives under the SBM that fueled this startup boom include:

• Massive Toilet Construction Drive: The construction of over 100 million toilets across India created a massive demand for innovative toilet designs, sanitation technologies, and waste management solutions.
• Behavior Change Campaigns: Extensive public awareness campaigns around hygiene and sanitation fostered a greater understanding of the importance of sanitation, creating a receptive market for sanitation products and services.
• Focus on Waste Management: The SBM emphasized the importance of solid and liquid waste management, leading to the development of waste treatment plants and initiatives for waste segregation and recycling, opening up avenues for startups to innovate in this space.

Analyzing Ten Years of Swachh Bharat Mission

The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), launched with much fanfare on Gandhi Jayanti in 2014, has completed a decade of operation. This milestone offers a valuable opportunity to assess its successes and shortcomings in transforming India's sanitation landscape.

Key Achievements of Swachh Bharat Mission:

• Significant Reduction in Open Defecation: Undoubtedly, the most significant achievement of the SBM has been the substantial reduction in open defecation. Declaring India "Open Defecation Free" (ODF) in 2019 was a landmark moment, achieved through the construction of over 100 million toilets in rural and urban areas. While challenges remain, the behavioral shift towards using toilets is a major step forward.
• Improved Access to Toilets: Access to toilet facilities has drastically improved. In 2019-21, 82.5% of households reported access to toilets, a significant jump from 45% in 2004-05. This increased access has particularly benefited women and girls, improving their safety and dignity.
• Focus on Waste Management: The SBM has broadened its scope beyond toilet construction to encompass solid and liquid waste management. With 78% of waste now being processed at the all-India level, the mission is making strides towards a cleaner environment. The concept of ODF Plus, which includes solid and liquid waste management systems in villages, further strengthens this commitment.
• Positive Health Impacts: Improved sanitation has had a positive impact on public health, particularly in reducing infant and child mortality rates. Studies indicate a correlation between increased toilet coverage and a decline in these rates, although the reductions have not been as dramatic as hoped.

Challenges and Concerns:

• Continued Open Defecation: Despite the progress, open defecation persists, with 11% of the population still practicing it in 2022, primarily in rural areas. This figure highlights the need for continued efforts to change behavior and ensure access to functional and well-maintained toilets.
• Disparities Between Rural and Urban Areas: While access to toilets has improved significantly, disparities persist between rural and urban areas. Urban centers have a much higher access rate (95.6%) compared to rural India (76%), indicating the need for targeted interventions in rural communities.
• Sustainability and Maintenance: Ensuring the long-term sustainability of the SBM's achievements requires continued investment in the maintenance of sanitation infrastructure and sustained community engagement.
• Manual Scavenging: Despite the 2013 Act banning manual scavenging, its eradication remains a challenge. More rigorous enforcement and the adoption of alternative technologies are crucial to eliminate this dehumanizing practice.
• Funding Fluctuations: While funding for the SBM has generally increased, there have been fluctuations and downward revisions in allocations, particularly for the urban component. Consistent and adequate funding is essential for the mission's continued success.

The Swachh Bharat Mission's impact extends beyond improved sanitation infrastructure. It has spurred the creation of a vibrant ecosystem of startups dedicated to developing innovative solutions and taking India's sanitation revolution to the next level.

The Rise of the Sanitation Entrepreneurs

Responding to this conducive environment, a new breed of entrepreneurs emerged, focused on tackling sanitation challenges with innovative solutions. These sanitation startups are disrupting the sector in diverse ways:

• Reinventing the Toilet: Startups are developing innovative toilet designs, including waterless toilets, composting toilets, and bio-toilets, to address the challenges of water scarcity and waste management. Companies like Eram Scientific and GARV Toilets are leading the way in this space.
• Waste Management Warriors: Companies like Saahas Zero Waste and Waste Ventures India are focusing on waste segregation, collection, and processing, using technologies like anaerobic digestion, composting, and waste-to-energy conversion.
• Public Sanitation Revolution: Startups are providing solutions for public sanitation, including smart toilets with automated cleaning systems, mobile toilet units for events and disaster relief, and hygiene solutions for public spaces.
• Tackling Menstrual Hygiene: Startups like Menstrupedia and Sanfe are addressing the issue of menstrual hygiene by providing affordable and accessible sanitary products, promoting menstrual health awareness, and breaking taboos.

The SBM's Impact on the Startup Ecosystem

The rise of sanitation startups has had a ripple effect across the Indian startup ecosystem:

• Social Impact & Profitability: Sanitation startups are demonstrating that social impact and profitability can go hand-in-hand. They are not only addressing critical sanitation challenges but also creating successful businesses.
• Job Creation: The sector has created numerous employment opportunities, especially in rural areas, contributing to economic growth and empowering marginalized communities.
• Technological Advancements: Sanitation startups are driving innovation in areas like biotechnology, waste management, and water treatment, leading to the development of cutting-edge technologies with applications beyond sanitation.
• Attracting Investment: The sector has attracted significant investments from impact investors and venture capitalists, recognizing the potential for both financial returns and social good.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Despite the progress, sanitation startups face hurdles:

• Funding Gaps: Securing funding for sanitation projects can be challenging, especially for early-stage startups with limited track records.
• Awareness & Adoption: Creating awareness about innovative sanitation solutions among rural communities and encouraging their adoption requires overcoming traditional practices and beliefs.
• Scaling Up: Scaling up operations and achieving profitability while maintaining affordability can be a challenge.

However, the future holds immense opportunities:

• Government Support: The government is actively promoting sanitation startups through initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Mission, the Swachhata Startup Challenge, and various funding schemes.
• Growing Market: The demand for sanitation solutions is increasing, especially in urban areas and public spaces, driven by rising urbanization and awareness of hygiene.
• Technological Advancements: Advances in technology are creating new opportunities for innovation in the sanitation sector, enabling more efficient and sustainable solutions.

The Swachh Bharat Mission has been a game-changer, not just for India's sanitation landscape but also for its startup ecosystem. By creating a conducive environment for innovation, the SBM has fueled the rise of sanitation startups that are developing groundbreaking solutions to address the country's sanitation challenges. These startups are not only improving public health and hygiene but also creating jobs, driving technological advancements, and attracting investment. As India marches towards a cleaner and healthier future, these sanitation startups will play a crucial role in achieving the goals of the Swachh Bharat Mission and beyond, proving that even toilets can be powerful tools for social and economic transformation.

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