Promoting Civic Responsibility and Private Sector Engagement: The Path Forward for India's Pilgrimage Sites

The upcoming Mahakumbh 2025 presents an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of cleanliness initiatives at India's pilgrimage sites, notably under the Swachh Bharat Mission. Critics of government overreach argue that while government initiatives have laid the groundwork, the future of sustainable sanitation lies in fostering a culture of personal responsibility and leveraging private sector innovation and efficiency. By encouraging private investments and public-private partnerships, India can achieve not only cleaner pilgrimage sites but also a successful model of government facilitation rather than government dependency, ensuring cleanliness through market-driven solutions and civic engagement.