ISAS Working Papers

Under the categories of Earth, Fire and Water, this paper reviews some of the technologies being deployed in the Swachh Bharat or Clean India campaign. Humans have buried, burned or washed away unwanted materials since pre-historic times, but modern population densities and production capacities pose unprecedented problems. The paper examines "scientific landfills," incineration methods and toilet and waste-water innovations. Although superior technologies are essential for the success of the Clean India initiative, they must be accompanied by superior training and conditions for existing low-status workers and widespread change in attitudes towards public sanitation. Achievement of these latter ends calls for further urgent research.