Swachh Bharat campaign goes digital! Private companies can now choose their cleanliness projects online

There has been an increasing participation from the private sector in the flagship Swachh Bharat campaign of the Indian government, because of which the government has decided to open a marketplace where it would put up all the cleanliness projects that need help.

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The Ministry of Urban Development is roping in industry groupings including Confederation of Indian Industry, FICCI and Assocham, so that they can connect it with companies that are looking forward to spend their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) budget.

Companies will be able to choose projects that suit them by connecting with the urban local bodies. This will provide companies with projects and the government with money, resulting in a win-win situation for both.

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In 2014-15, 52 public sector units and 409 private organisations collectively spent Rs 6,338 crore on CSR activities in India, and completed 1,790 projects. Out of this, Swachh Bharat Kosh got Rs 15.5 crore, or 0.25%.

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"Companies prefer to fund projects and get them executed through a third party rather than connect with the urban local body," a senior urban development ministry official told ET.

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"It is usually the impression the private sector has that urban local body means delayed decision-making. The companies are often not aware of the exact project plans of ULBs under the mission and are not aligned with the immediate demands. The marketplace is aimed at changing this."

There would be several projects listed on the marketplace, including construction of household, public and community toilets, waste management infrastructure and information, education and communication initiatives.

(Image source: NEDFI)