Anand Vihar, which serves as a critical artery for millions of commuters annually, has become a focal point for critics questioning the efficacy of India’s decade-long sanitation crusade. Launched in 2014, the Swachh Bharat Mission represented a monumental shift in national policy, backed by aggressive spending and a primary focus on waste management and the elimination of open defecation. While the initiative has successfully declared a vast majority of India’s rural landscape open-defecation free and undeniably elevated the national conversation on hygiene, the deteriorating state of Anand Vihar suggests a persistent "last-mile" failure in dense urban environments.
The outcry on social media and among commuters points to a multifaceted failure of both administration and civic duty. Observers have highlighted a toxic combination of poor civic habits, illegal encroachments that hinder maintenance, and a perceived unevenness in how sanitation funds are deployed. While flagship airports and high-profile corridors receive meticulous care, vital hubs like Anand Vihar—which cater largely to the working-class population—appear to have slipped through the cracks of administrative oversight.
This incident serves as a sobering reminder that the success of a national mission cannot be measured solely by rural statistics or the number of toilets constructed. The situation at Anand Vihar highlights an urgent need for sustainable urban waste management systems and a renewed commitment to maintaining existing public infrastructure. As the footage continues to circulate, the pressure mounts on railway authorities and civic bodies to bridge the gap between high-level policy goals and the daily lived experience of the millions who rely on India’s rail network.
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