Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: This scheme declared more than 500,000 villages open defecation free
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: Today, almost 50% of Indian households use toilet cleansers. This number was quite low ten years ago. Just 19% of households utilized toilet cleansers in 2014. In contrast, this percentage rose to 53% in 2024. Toilet cleansers are now being used by over 12.8 crore new households.
The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is the main cause of this. In addition, Dabur, Hindustan Unilever, and Reckitt Benckiser all advertised hygiene goods. This has led to a rise in its number. According to Vaibhav Rathi, head of marketing at Dabur, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan raised awareness of hygiene because of the development of restrooms in rural regions.
Market expansion
The surface cleaning market in India is valued at around ₹4,200 crores. Toilet cleaner accounts for ₹2,000 crores of this. Toilet cleansers were more common in cities ten years ago. These days, rural regions are also seeing an upsurge in demand for this commodity. 82% of urban households used toilet cleansers in the past. This percentage has now dropped to 48%. In contrast, 52% of rural communities utilize it.
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’s marvel
Over 500,000 villages have been proclaimed free of open defecation by the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Sanitation in rural areas has increased from 39% to 100%. In addition to this, businesses are joining this campaign. In 2016, Hindustan Unilever installed communal restroom block facilities. They are now sixteen in number.
