A week before the nationwide launch of complete cleanliness and sanitation drive, the Cabinet cleared the plan for Swachh Bharat Mission that will cover all rural and urban areas. The Cabinet recently set the target of five years starting from October 2 to implement the complete sanitation programme - Swachh Bharat Mission - in all urban areas across the country. The programme includes elimination of open defecation, conversion of insanitary toilets to pour flush toilets, eradication of manual scavenging, municipal solid waste management and bringing about a behavioural change in people.

While the urban development ministry will be the nodal agency responsible for monitoring and supervising the mission across all the 4,041 statutory towns, the drinking water and sanitation ministry will have the same responsibility for rural areas. The mission has been divided into two sub categories - gramin (rural) and urban. The Swachh Bharat Mission for urban areas is proposed to be implemented over five years starting from October 2, and the total expected cost of the programme is Rs. 62,000 crore. While the Centre will provide Rs. 14,623 crore assistance, the rest will come from states, private players and other sources.