The Stream

Cleaning India

Can India solve its waste and sanitation problems by 2019?

Over 600 million Indians defecate in the open. That’s just one obstacle for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s #SwachhBharat campaign, aimed at cleaning India by 2019. Videos of Modi and celebrities wielding brooms have swept social media, raising public interest in sanitation. But critics question how realistic the drive is, pointing to deep-rooted social attitudes and a government focused on economic growth. So, will this campaign succeed where others have failed? Join us at 1930 GMT.

On this episode of The Stream, we speak with:

Meenakshi Lekhi @M_Lekhi
National Spokesperson, Bharatiya Janata Party

Nityanand Jayaraman
Environmental activist

Aashish Gupta @riceinstitute
Social scientist

Sonal Kalra @sonalkalra
Columnist, Hindustan Times

What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.