Ten years ago, grand declarations echoed through the corridors of power—Ganga would be purified, India would be made clean, and a hundred cities would be transformed into smart hubs. The public clapped, and hope swelled. But as the curtain lifts on ground realities, the chasm between dream and delivery is more glaring than ever.

The Ganga, once a symbol of faith, continues to flow poisoned. The ‘Namami Gange’ mission was launched with much fanfare. In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it the ‘lifeline of India’ and vowed to revive it. Around ₹40,000 crore was poured in, but what now flows through the Ganga is despair, not purity.

Read in Hindi: सरकारी मिशनों की नाकामी से नदियां रो रही हैं, शहर सिसक रहे हैं...

A report by the Central Pollution Control Board states that 60 per cent of the river’s water is not even fit for bathing. In Varanasi, 80 per cent of sewage is discharged untreated into the Ganga. South of Haridwar, the river has shrunk to just 30 per cent of its volume. Tanneries in Uttarakhand and chemical factories in Uttar Pradesh openly flout rules—no inspections, no action. ‘Revival’ is the word on paper; in truth, the Ganga continues to cry. And the Yamuna, across Braj Mandal, groans in even deeper pain.

Another grand project, Swachh Bharat Mission, was similarly glorified. Launched in 2014, it aimed to eliminate open defecation in India. Official figures claimed over 10 crore toilets were built, and the country was declared Open Defecation Free by 2019.

But ground reports reveal otherwise—rural areas in states like Rajasthan, Bihar, and Jharkhand still resort to open defecation. NSSO surveys revealed the harsh reality—40 per cent of rural India remains without toilets. Why? Because while toilets were built, many lacked water or sewage connections, turning into pit-like graveyards. The worst affected? Manual scavengers—still cleaning sewers by hand, dying in the process. In 2023 alone, three sanitation workers died in Delhi’s sewers. Since 2014, over 600 such deaths have occurred. The ban on manual scavenging exists only on paper.

Now to the grandest dream of all: the Smart Cities Mission. Launched in 2015 to make 100 cities ‘world-class’—featuring Digital India, smart roads, Wi-Fi zones, and solar energy. Sounds visionary. In reality, it became a goldmine for contractors. Of the 7,000+ projects initiated, a CAG report shows 70 per cent missed their deadlines. ₹12,000 crore was handed out without proper tenders. Many cities installed sensors and tech tools, only for them to break down within a year.

If ‘smart’ only means fancy planters and mobile apps, it is an insult to the nation. Today, India’s cities struggle with basic sanitation, traffic chaos, and zero accountability. The mission faded away quietly, but the scars of its failure remain etched on urban walls.

All three missions share a common thread—political optics and unchecked bureaucracy. Money was spent; results went missing. Plans were drawn up, but the system to implement them rotted from within. Billions went into workshops, seminars, and capacity-building charades—yet the common citizen’s life saw little change.

Now, the government is back with shiny new names—'Amrit 2.0’, ‘Ganga Akshay’, ‘Swachh Bharat 2.0’—repackaging old dreams. But what good is makeup on untreated wounds? Village lanes remain choked with filth, urban drains overflow, and rivers have turned into toxic drains. The once sacred Ganga has become a symbol of shame and sorrow.

The truth is, neither the Ganga was cleaned, nor was India cleaned. All we saw were colourful promises drawn like rangoli, while the reality was trampled underfoot.’ In the glitter of grand schemes, the sun of truth seems to have set.