In the run up to Independence Day, we bring you stories on sectors which have made major impact on the lives of citizens. In this series, today we bring you a report on Swachh Bharat. The Narendra Modi government has laid a lot of emphasis on making Clean India a mass movement.<br />”<br />”Inaugurating the Rashtriya Swacchata Kendra in New Delhi on 8th August last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has brought about a permanent change in social consciousness and behaviour of people. He said, cleanliness drive has been a big support in the fight against Corona virus.<br />”<br />”AIR correspondent reports that people’s participation has made Swachh Bharat Mission the world’s largest behavior change programme. The Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural) has moved towards its second phase which is also called ODF-Plus. This phase will continue till 2024-25.<br />”<br />”<span style="color: #000000;">The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has transformed rural sanitation in the country and has changed the behaviour of over 60 crore people from open defecation to using a toilet. The mission has focused on rural and urban areas separately and played a crucial role in ensuring sanitation in the country. Since the launch of Swachh Bharat mission in 2014, more than ten crore 71 lakh individual toilets have been constructed across the country. Rural areas in all the states have declared themselves Open Defecation Free ODF on 2nd October, 2019. More than six lakh villages have been declared ODF villages. The sanitation coverage in the rural areas of the country has increased to 100 per cent, which was over 38 per cent during the launch of the mission. During the COVID19 pandemic, Swachh Bharat has become very crucial, reminding people of how crucial sanitation and hygiene are to prevent diseases. Handwashing has become an effective tool to prevent Covid 19 and other diseases.</span><br />