New Delhi, 19th November’ 21: Lauding Prime Minister of India’s Narendra Modi’s efforts towards making India open defecation-free in 2019, which is 11 years ahead of target set by UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030, Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said freedom from open-defecation is just the first step towards clean India.
The minister was speaking on the occasion of World Toilet Day at the Harpic Mission Paani Sanitation Forum which was graced by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandi Ben Patel and others. During this event, India’s first-ever ‘Sanitation for All Pledge and Preamble: Clean Water, Sustainable Sanitation’ written by ace lyricist Kausar Muneer and a Coffee Table Book on sanitation workers- ‘101 Stories of Inspiration’ endorsed by Mr Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India were also unveiled.
Addressing the event, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Jal Shakti said, “The Prime Minister of India has set a target of making the country open defecation-free and we are proud that we achieved the target 11 years ahead of the target set by the UN Sustainable Development Goals in 2019. This is just a step that we have reached towards our mission of a clean and healthy India. A lot of work is being done in rural areas in liquid and solid waste management with setting up of infrastructure for grey water management. Every citizen should pledge to work towards sanitation and access to safe water so that we can walk together towards making a new India.”
Written by ace lyricist Kausar Munir, the pledge aims to bring together people from all walks of life to ensure access to clean water and sanitation The pledge is endorsed by Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission.
Actor and campaign ambassador Akshay Kumar who has made a successful film highlighting the need of toilets especially for women spoke in length about the impact cinema can make on such issues. He also added, “In the last few years, India has made rapid progress in improving sanitation and ending open defecation across the country. But still a significant population does not have access to toilets and clean drinking water. I am glad that through the Mission Paani initiative, Reckitt and Network18 Group are trying to push for a behavioural change by making us take the sanitation pledge. A lack of sanitation not only impacts health but also holds back economic growth. It is imminent for all of us to support this initiative and take the message to a larger number of people, especially in rural India.”
The 2-hour long hybrid event held at Rashtriya Swacchta Kendra, Delhi brought together voices across states and sectors including communities, corporates, NGOs, water and sanitation warriors, prominent change-makers, and celebrities, to bring to focus how critical it is to ensure access to the basic human right of clean water and sanitation. It witnessed talks and discussions by eminent personalities and dignitaries like Akshay Kumar – Actor & Campaign Ambassador, Gaurav Jain – Senior Vice President, South Asia, Reckitt, Kausar Munir – Lyricist and Author of water and sustainable sanitation preamble, Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi- Transgender Activist and Social Worker and others.
“I congratulate News18 and Mission Paani for connecting the entire country with this important mission. Access to clean water and toilets are not just necessities but the rights of citizens. It is extremely important that after 75 years of Independence, we work together to give safe water and toilets to every home in the country. India will be only healthy if it drinks clean water and breathes in a clean environment. The government has launched many missions to achieve these goals but larger public participation and collaborations are must to achieve success. The government has adopted the mission of Mahatma Gandhi and all public representatives should collectively campaign for clean cities and clean India,” said Mr. Om Birla, Lok Sabha Speaker.
Live reports from World Toilet College Rishikesh and Patiala, special interviews and journeys of achievers, were also featured during the live event. The event also featured inspiring stories of manual scavengers across India.
On this occasion, Avinash Kaul, Chief Executive Officer, Network18 and Managing Director, A + E Networks, TV18 said, “With the sanitation for all pledge, we aim to bring together people from all walks of life, including policy makers and celebrities, to join the campaign for improving sanitation and access to clean water and toilets across the country. Being one of the leading news networks in the country, it’s also our responsibility to drive action led conversations around this very critical subject that impacts the health of millions.’
Aligned to Swachh Bharat Mission and UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, Harpic Mission Paani is committed to work towards raising awareness and mobilizing action that ensures ‘Leaving No One Behind’. India’s first ever preamble for inclusive sanitation is a step towards collectively promoting an inclusive ecosystem that reinforces our need to come together to create a cleaner and healthier world.
Gaurav Jain, Senior Vice President, South Asia, Reckitt commented, “Reckitt’s fight, is to make access to the highest quality hygiene, wellness and nourishment a right, and not a privilege. Today, on World Toilet Day, we are reinforcing our commitment to create an ecosystem to enable access to water supply and sanitation provision which are essential to eradicate poverty.We are bringing the country together to take a pledge to uphold India’s first-ever Preamble for safe water and sanitation. Safe water and safer toilets mean a healthier nation; this must emerge as one of the most critical human rights components in the country’s development narrative.”
