Women and Transgender Changemakers of Swachhata

Why in the News?

• Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 was launched on 17 September 2026 with the theme “Swachhata Mein Sahbhag; Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat”.
• It highlights women’s participation, livelihood creation and inclusion of transgender persons in sanitation and waste-management activities.

Key Highlights

• Promotes a Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society approach to Swachhata.
• Women are involved in:
  • Waste-to-livelihood enterprises
  • Material Recovery Facilities
  • Community cleanliness campaigns
  • Composting and waste reduction
• Transgender persons are being integrated into urban sanitation services through Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

Women-led Waste-to-Livelihood

• Loni, Uttar Pradesh: Women use cow dung to produce incense sticks and Loban cups.
• Initiative began with 8-10 women and employs around 40-50 women during peak summer production.
• Products use around 30-35% dry cow dung powder, reducing the requirement for wood sawdust.
• Loni Nagar Palika Parishad can earn up to 25% revenue from product sales.
• Products supplied to Delhi, Mumbai, Punjab, Gujarat and Hyderabad, with some orders reaching Mauritius and South Africa.
• Future possibilities include cow-dung fuel and biodegradable flower pots.

Pink Material Recovery Facility

• Patna, Bihar: Pink Material Recovery Facility (MRF) is operated primarily by women.
• Capacity:
  • 2 tonnes/day dry waste
  • 1.5 tonnes/day wet waste
• Cash for Waste: Citizens receive payment for bringing dry waste at prescribed rates.
• Patna also converted old unusable vehicles into mobile Pink Toilets.
• Reflects the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Community-led Swachhata

• Bhopal: 250 women brand ambassadors work on cleanliness and waste management.
• Bartan Banks: Established across 25 wards to reduce single-use plastic through reusable utensils.
• Swachhata Kitty Group: 60 women, each contributing ₹100 per month, fund community cleanliness activities.
• Uttarakhand:Bainni Sena (“Army of Sisters”) comprises 57 groups and 570 women.
  • Monitor cleanliness
  • Conduct awareness programmes
  • Communicate complaints
  • Coordinate with municipal authorities and sanitation workers.
• Shillong: Iynnehskhem Self-Help Group converts household wet waste into compost.

Inclusion of Transgender Persons

• Cuttack, Odisha: Municipal Corporation organised transgender persons into a Self-Help Group and trained them to operate and maintain a Septage Treatment Plant.
• Model expanded to other Odisha Urban Local Bodies through Self-Help Groups.
• Areas include:
  • Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM)
  • Solid waste management
• Bhubaneswar: Swikruti SHG operates a 75-KLD Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) at Basuaghai.
• Transgender groups are also involved in operation and maintenance of seven cesspool vehicles.
• Training includes health, hygiene, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and desludging protocols.

Prelims Quick Revision

• Swachhata Hi Seva 2026: Launched 17 September 2026.
• Theme: “Swachhata Mein Sahbhag; Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat”.
• Loni: 30-35% dry cow dung powder used in incense products.
• Pink MRF, Patna: 2 tonnes/day dry + 1.5 tonnes/day wet waste.
• Bhopal: 250 women brand ambassadors and Bartan Banks across 25 wards.
• Uttarakhand: Bainni Sena = 57 groups, 570 women.
• Bhubaneswar: 75-KLD FSTP operated by Swikruti SHG.
• Patna’s mobile Pink Toilets demonstrate the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

UPSC Prelims Trap

• MRF is associated with material recovery and waste processing, while FSTP deals with faecal sludge treatment.
• Bainni Sena is associated with Uttarakhand, not Odisha or Bihar.
• Swikruti SHG operates a 75-KLD FSTP in Bhubaneswar.
• The Pink MRF is located in Patna, while the cow-dung livelihood initiative described is from Loni, Uttar Pradesh.