Clean India mission: towards the right to sanitation as a human right?

In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly recognised the right to sanitation as a human right. In the same year, this was reaffirmed by a resolution of the UN Human Rights Council. Both resolutions considered the right to sanitation ‘essential for full enjoyment of life and all human rights’. India has also voted in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution in 2010; subsequently, India has recognised the right to sanitation as a human right on several occasions. As per Census 2011, 67.33% households practiced open defecation in India. The Government of India launched Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) on 2 October, 2014 with an intention to accelerate sanitation coverage in rural and urban areas. Stakeholders and people from all sections of society have welcomed it as a major step to achieve a healthy and hygienic environment for the citizens of India. The mission can be considered as one of the steps for the realisation of the right to sanitation at the level of a human right, as an entitlement due to all.