Beacons of Swachh Bharat

Indore's Waste Management Model & GOBARdhan's Rural Revolution

Advitya Bahl

The essence of development is grounded in certain fundamental principles, one of which is cleanliness. Cleanliness embodies the prosperity and forward-thinking spirit of a nation. The ethos of a clean and well-managed environment not only enhances the citizens' quality of life but also stands as a testament to a nation's commitment to progress. At the core of this commitment lies the effective management of waste. Recently, the celebration of this commitment took center stage at the 'Swachh Survekshan Awards 2023,' hosted at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, under the patronage of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). The ceremony, graced by President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, felicitated and recognised 13 awardees across various categories, underlining the significance of cleanliness in diverse facets of life. These triumphs in cleanliness are deeply rooted in the ideals of the Swachh Bharat Mission, a transformative initiative that has become a beacon of progress. The mission, launched in 2014, aims not only to eradicate open defecation but also to instill a sense of responsibility and pride in maintaining a clean environment. The Swachh Bharat Mission has been instrumental in fostering behavioral change among citizens, emphasising the importance of hygiene and cleanliness. Scientific processing of waste has witnessed a remarkable surge, escalating from 15-16% in 2014 to an impressive 76% in 2023, indicating a quantum leap toward sustainable waste management practices. The Swachh Bharat Mission has two components - Urban and Rural, tailored to address the diverse dynamics of lifestyles and developmental frameworks in India. Within these narratives, we will explore two remarkable success stories that stand as benchmarks for sustainable cleanliness practices, one in the urban landscape and the other in rural India.

Indore: Leading the Way in Urban Sanitation

Indore has emerged as a shining example of effective waste management, positioning itself as India's cleanest city for several consecutive years. With over 1,115 MT of daily waste production, the city has successfully implemented innovative strategies and community involvement to address the challenges posed by urban waste. Some of the key factors contributing to Indore's success and how its waste management model can serve as a blueprint for other cities across India are as follows:

Systematic Collection and Segregation: Indore's waste management journey transitioned through various stages, overcoming challenges in primary and secondary waste collection. The city moved from unreliable private waste collectors, locally known as "Jagirdars," to a systematic door-to-door collection system. The implementation of this system, covering 100% of the wards, involved meticulous planning, route optimisation and the use of GPS-enabled monitoring for efficient waste collection. A fleet of 850 vehicles navigate the city to collect a staggering 700 tonnes of wet waste, 700 tonnes of dry waste and 200 tonnes of plastic waste. The city employs a three-bin system for wet, dry and hazardous waste, collected through separate vehicles. The wet waste is processed centrally, while decentralised waste processing units handle certain categories of waste at the source. The city has also invested in Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) for the segregation of dry waste.

Turning Challenges into Opportunities: In addressing the complexities of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), Indore employs a multifaceted strategy, incorporating various advanced techniques. Gasification stands out as a key process, where organic materials are heated to produce syngas, a mixture of carbon monoxide and Hydrogen which is also a renewable energy source. The city also utilises incineration for burning organic matter, especially beneficial for eliminating pathogens and hazardous wastes. Compos-ting, another crucial component, involves breaking down organic materials into fertilizers and soil amendments. This sustainable practice contributes to soil rehabilitation and nutrient-rich compost production. Indore also embraces the age-old method of landfills, focusing on minimal environ-mental impact and operational costs. Recycling plays a pivotal role in Indore's waste management model, emphasising the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. The city efficiently processes materials like paper, glass, plastic and metal, contributing to waste reduction and resource conservation. Moreover, Indore's recycling efforts extend to the production of Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF), which involves sorting, size reduction, drying and creating a final product used as fuel. The city's innovative strides include the establishment of a Biomethanation plant for wholesale vegetable and fruit markets, producing purified and com-pressed Bio-CNG for fuel and organic fertilizer.

Financial Sustainability: Indore's dedication to waste management is not just reflected in its operational excellence but also in its financial commitment. The city allocates a substantial budget of Rs. 200 crore annually to sustain its waste management initiatives. Remarkably, a portion of this financial commitment is recovered through a unique revenue model, where a private firm pays a royalty of Rs. 2.52 crore to the Indore Municipal Corporation for the wet waste supplied. Indore's ability to recover a portion of its waste management expenses through a royalty system exemplifies the concept of a circular economy. The city has successfully turned waste into a valuable resource, showcasing how responsible waste management practices can not only contribute to environmental sustainability but also generate revenue to fund ongoing initiatives. This model also underscores the importance of public-private partnerships in achieving sustainable waste management goals. By engaging with the private sector, Indore has not only secured financial support but has also established a model where waste becomes a re-source with economic value.

GOBARDhan: Integrating Sanitation with Prosperity

The Swachh Bharat Mission - Grameen exemplifies India's commitment to transforming its villages through cleanliness, sanitation and sustainable waste management practices, paving the way for healthier and more vibrant rural communities. When the Swachh Bharat Mission was launched in 2014, one of the major objectives was making India Open Defecation Free (ODF) by Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary on October 2, 2019. This mission marked a pivotal step toward ensuring rural sanitation and cleanliness, focusing on individual house-hold toilets and proper waste management systems. By October 2019, the resounding success of SBM-Grameen Phase-I was evident, with every village in the country and subsequently, all 36 States/ Union Territories, declaring themselves ODF. The rural sanitation coverage soared from 39 percent in 2014 to an impressive 100 percent in 2019. Building on this success, Phase-II of SBM-G was initiated in 2020, emphasising the need for Individual Household Latrines (IHHLs) and robust waste management systems, steering villages toward an ODF Plus Model. The cornerstone of this model is the GOBARdhan scheme, launched in 2018. Named Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan), this visionary scheme became an integral part of the Solid and Liquid Waste Management component under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen). Since its inception, GOBARdhan has not only added new dimensions to India's cleanliness drive but has also emerged as an all encompassing development paradigm for rural households. GOBARdhan embodies a transformative vision for rural India. As the programme progresses, it not only supports the nation's commitment to cleanliness but also integrates economic growth, environ-mental responsibility and social well-being. GOBARdhan stands as a shining example of how a well-crafted initiative can act as a catalyst for comprehensive development, touching the lives of those in rural landscapes and paving the way for a brighter, more sustainable future. The primary focus of GOBARdhan is to revolutionise waste management in villages, with a particular emphasis on cattle waste and organic residues. As rural India celebrates the attainment of Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, GOBARdhan steps in to elevate these achievements further by supporting villages in reaching the ODF-plus status - a crucial objective of Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase II. Designed as a Waste to Wealth programme, GOBARdhan brings together various Minis-tries and Departments, including the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Department of Rural Development and the coordinating Department, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS). DDWS takes charge of implementing the scheme, providing technical and financial assistance to States/UTs for the execution of GOBARdhan projects that involves a meticulous approach, from identifying beneficiaries to project planning and seeking approvals for administrative and technical proposals. The aim is not just waste management but a comprehensive approach that integrates economic, environ-mental and social aspects. 

An All-in-One Development Paradigm GOBARdhan stands as a holistic development paradigm for rural households, merging scientific and economic perspectives across various dimensions:

Scientific Approach: The cleanliness drive initiated by GOBARdhan is not merely a surface-level aesthetic improvement. Scientifically, the efficient management of solid waste, including cattle dung and agricultural residues, leads to a reduction in environmental pollutants. By employing biogas technology to convert organic waste into valuable resources, the scheme mitigates the risks associated with open waste disposal, which often results in water contamination and the spread of diseases. The scientific approach here not only enhances the visual cleanliness of villages but also addresses the deeper environmental health concerns.

Economic Empowerment and Employment Generation: The implementation of biogas plants has created a ripple effect, generating employment opportunities. From the construction and maintenance of biogas plants to the management of waste collection and processing, various stages of the GOBARdhan initiative contribute to skill development and income generation. The economic impact is twofold - it supports individual households while simultaneously fostering community-level economic resilience through the formation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and farmers' groups. Moreover, by promoting the use of biogas as an alternative to LPG, households experience a tangible reduction in expenses.

Environmental Sustainability: From an environmental perspective, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is a critical scientific achievement of GOBARdhan. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas released during the decomposition of organic waste, is mitigated through the anaerobic digestion process in biogas plants. This not only aligns with global efforts to combat climate change but also contributes to local environmental sustainability. The economic aspect here is the avoidance of potential environmental clean-up costs and the fostering of a sustainable ecosystem.

Agricultural Prosperity: The generation of organic manure through the biogas process is a scientifically proven method for enhancing agricultural productivity. The nutrient-rich organic manure produced by biogas plants serves as an excellent soil conditioner, fostering improved crop yields. This dual benefit not only contributes to the economic prosperity of farmers but also aligns with sustainable agricultural practices, reducing dependency on chemical fertilizers and promo-ting soil health.

Achievements So Far

With a "Whole of Government" approach, the GOBARdhan scheme is not only reaping good results but is also sparking significant investments in the burgeoning biogas sector across India. The Unified Registration Portal for GOBARdhan, launched on June 1, 2023, has become a focal point of enthusiasm for States/UTs and Compressed Biogas (CBG)/Biogas operators and investors. Developed by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, this portal has streamlined the registration process for functional, under construction, or yet-to-start Biogas/Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants nationwide. The response to the GOBARdhan initiative has been phenomenal, as evidenced by the registration of over 1200 biogas plants, spanning 479 districts, on the portal as of January 2024. This surge in registrations indicates the flourishing trajectory of the CBG/Biogas industry, poised to play a significant role in India's renewable energy portfolio. According to real time data available on the platform, so far, more than 678 biogas plants are fully functional and another 341 plants are under construction. 86 plants are undergoing the clearance process. Notably, a large chunk of the registered biogas plants have the capacity to process over 6600 Tonnes Per Day (TPD) of organic/agri residue, producing more than 300 TPD of compressed biogas (CBG) and over 2000 TPD of Fermented Organic Manure (FOM). The registration numbers are expected to soar further, thanks to ongoing government initiatives, including fiscal support for biomass aggregation, pipeline connectivity from CBG plants to the city gas distribution grid and other visionary policies. The recent inclusion of CBG in the list of activities for trading of carbon credit under bilateral/ cooperative approaches adds another layer of encouragement for stakeholders across the value chain. Initiatives such as the Market Development Assistance (MDA) scheme, offering Rs. 1500/Ton for promoting organic fertilizers and amendments in the Fertilizer Control Order to simplify marketing of FOM/ Liquid FOM highlight the government's proactive stance to make this scheme an exemplary success.

(The author is a correspondent of a leading daily newspaper. Feedback on this article can be sent to feedback.employmentnews@gmail.com)

Views expressed are personal.