Is Swachh Bharat really about cleanliness—or just another tax burden?

Swachh Bharat was sold as a movement towards a cleaner India. But what if I told you it is more about emptying your pockets than cleaning the streets? Between multiple taxes, questionable allocation of funds, and the government’s non-serious approach to sanitation, it is worth asking: Is this just a cash cow? Let us unpack it all.

Why maturity means realizing Swachh Bharat isn’t about cleanliness but taxing you

You probably cheered when the Swachh Bharat Mission was first announced back in 2014. Finally, a concerted effort to clean up our streets, improve sanitation, and rid our cities of that embarrassing public waste problem. I imagined clean roads, public toilets that actually worked, and no more open defecation in rural areas.

Fast forward to today, and what do we have? A hefty tax burden, vague statistics on improvement, and a nagging sense that we have all been conned.

Is it just another way to tax you?

To begin, let us talk taxes—because if Swachh Bharat has achieved anything, it has bloated the already weighty taxation system in India. The introduction of the Swachh Bharat Cess in November 2015 saw an additional 0.5% charge slapped onto services like restaurant bills, telephone services, air travel, etc. It may sound like small change, but let us add it all up.

Swachh Bharat Cess: The hidden burden

According to reports, between November 2015 and March 2016, the government collected approximately Rs 3,901 crore from this cess alone. And yet, public infrastructure doesn’t reflect this mammoth sum. Shouldn’t sanitation be affordable and accessible? Why is the government taxing its citizens even more for such a basic necessity?

And it’s not just this cess. We’re also looking at GST rates—a whopping 18% on items directly related to hygiene and sanitation like sanitary ware, toilets, and cleaning supplies. Yes, you read that right: toilets and cleaning supplies. How can a country aim to improve sanitation when it taxes essential sanitation supplies like luxuries?

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But wait, you already pay sanitation taxes, don’t you?

Here’s the kicker. Beyond these Union-level taxes, citizens already pay for sanitation services through sewerage taxes or sanitation charges to municipal or local governments. Let’s break it down:

• In Delhi, households pay up to Rs 200 per month as sewerage charges to the Delhi Jal Board.
• In Mumbai, property tax often includes a sanitation component, and you can end up paying between Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 annually.
• Local Residential Welfare Associations (RWAs) often impose sanitation fees, whether to hire cleaners, maintain local parks, or ensure garbage pickup.

So, we are already paying through multiple channels. Municipalities, housing societies, and the Swachh Bharat Cess are all dipping into the same pot. Why are there so many layers to sanitation costs? And a few more coins to use those pathetic public toilets (if you can locate one). Where is all this money going?

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Is sanitation in India really improving?

Before I get carried away, let me pause and ask: Is sanitation improving? The government claims massive success in building toilets. By 2019, over 100 million toilets were reportedly built across India. But it’s not that simple.

A 2019 National Statistical Office (NSO) survey found that 28.7% of rural households didn’t have access to a toilet despite the government's ambitious claims. That’s nearly 30% of rural India! Meanwhile, many built toilets are either unused or poorly maintained. It is not just about building infrastructure; it’s about ensuring that people actually use and maintain it.

And let us not forget about open defecation. While the government declared India "Open Defecation Free" in 2019, independent studies and news reports suggest otherwise. In many rural areas, old habits die hard, and the lack of water supply makes using toilets more of a chore than a convenience.

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Why is there no transparency in how the money is used?

With billions of rupees collected in the name of Swachh Bharat, shouldn’t we have clear answers on where all that money is going? Sadly, much of it seems to be channelled into publicity and propaganda rather than actual on-the-ground improvements.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reported that over Rs 530 crore was spent on advertising Swachh Bharat between 2014 and 2017. It is hard to miss those flashy ads and billboards featuring Bollywood celebrities endorsing cleanliness, right? But are fancy jingles really going to clean the streets?

Now, I am not saying awareness campaigns are unnecessary—they play a role—but shouldn’t the bulk of the money go towards, I don’t know, actual cleaning? Instead of paying for prime-time TV slots, shouldn’t we invest more in building sustainable waste management systems?

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Has sanitation become the perfect excuse to milk taxpayers?

One of the key issues is that sanitation has become a perfect excuse to bleed taxpayers dry. By invoking a cause that no one can argue against—who wouldn’t want a cleaner India?—the government has created a situation where it can raise taxes under the guise of a noble cause.

But how much of it is really helping? Are we simply throwing money at a problem without seeing real results? Sure, we might have fewer heaps of garbage in some places, but have things improved so much that they justify the immense taxes levied on us?

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Why are we complacent about asking questions?

I will be honest here. Sometimes I wonder if we, as citizens, are part of the problem. How many of us have ever asked our elected representatives where the sanitation tax money is actually going? How many of us have demanded transparency on how much of the Swachh Bharat Cess is being spent on PR versus actual sanitation projects?

Here is the thing: We live in a democracy, and we have the right to hold our government accountable. If sanitation taxes are being misused or over-levied, we should be asking tough questions. After all, isn’t this our hard-earned money?

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Gandhi’s vision of sanitation vs. Swachh Bharat

Let us also pause to think about what Mohandas Gandhi, the original champion of cleanliness in India, would say. Gandhi once said, "Sanitation is more important than independence." His vision was about self-reliance and community involvement in maintaining cleanliness—not about taxing citizens to outsource the problem to overburdened municipalities.

Gandhi’s approach was simple and grassroots-driven. He encouraged people to take responsibility for their surroundings rather than rely on government programmes. In contrast, the Swachh Bharat Mission, for all its well-meaning intentions, has turned sanitation into a taxation enterprise rather than a people’s movement.

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Are we getting what we paid for?

As citizens, we deserve to know whether the enormous sums collected in the name of cleanliness are being used efficiently. Here’s a quick rundown of how much has been spent:

• Between 2015 and 2020, the Swachh Bharat Mission received over Rs 62,000 crore in funding.
• As mentioned earlier, Rs 530 crore was spent on advertising alone.
• In several states, the utilisation rate of funds is far below expectations, with states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh underperforming in spending allocated resources.

So, the burning question is: If the money isn’t being effectively used, are we really getting what we are paying for?

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What can we do as citizens?

It’s time to start demanding more. We need to ask:

1. Where is the money going?
2. Why are basic sanitation items taxed at luxury rates?
3. Why are we paying double or triple for sanitation services?
4. Why aren’t we seeing more transparency in the expenditure of Swachh Bharat funds?

It is time we stopped being passive and started holding our leaders accountable for how our tax money is being used—or misused.

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FAQ

Why is there a cess for Swachh Bharat when we already pay taxes?

The Swachh Bharat Cess is an additional tax levied by the government to raise funds specifically for cleanliness and sanitation efforts. However, many argue that this is redundant as citizens already pay sanitation-related taxes to local governments.

How much has been collected through the Swachh Bharat Cess?

From November 2015 to March 2016 alone, approximately Rs 3,901 crore was collected. Since then, the cess has continued to add to the government's coffers.

Are sanitation improvements worth the extra taxes?

While the government claims significant improvements, such as the construction of millions of toilets, independent reports suggest that many sanitation issues remain unresolved, especially in rural areas.

Why are cleaning supplies and toilets taxed at 18% GST?

This is one of the key criticisms of the Swachh Bharat initiative. Essential sanitation supplies are taxed at high GST rates, making it harder for citizens to afford them and maintain cleanliness.

How can citizens hold the government accountable for sanitation spending?

Citizens can demand transparency from their elected representatives, engage in local governance issues, and advocate for clear audits of Swachh Bharat funds.

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Tough Questions: Time to speak up

We, as taxpayers, have been sold the dream of a cleaner, better India. But is this dream being realised, or are we simply paying for another round of fancy government advertising?

Are you happy with the sanitation levels in your locality? Is your tax money being used wisely? I urge you to share your thoughts in the comments and ask these questions to your local representatives. Let us stop being complacent about where our hard-earned money is going.

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Maturity is realising that Swachh Bharat wasn’t just about cleaning up the streets—it has become a complex web of taxes, inefficiency, and questionable spending. If we don’t speak up now, when will we?

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Tushar Mangl is a counsellor, the author of The Avenging Act. He writes on topics like personal finance, mental health, and the art of living a balanced life.