New Delhi: The government is reaching out to private players to help finance Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet project of Swachh Bharat Mission, said Parmeswaran Iyer, Drinking Water and Sanitation Secretary.
State-run firms or PSUs are looking to contribute to the Swachh Bharat Kosh (SBK) from their CSR funds. – Parmeswaran Iyer
“We have been in touch with private firms, many have shown interest to donate to the Swachh Bharat Kosh,” he said.
Established in November 2014 under the Finance Ministry, Swachh Bharat Kosh seeks to attract CSR (corporate social responsibility) funds and contributions from individuals and philanthropists in response to PM Modi’s I-Day speech that year, in which he had called for achieving the goal of Clean India by 2019.
Total funds mobilised under the Swachh Bharat Kosh as on January 31 stood at Rs 369.74 crores.
Mr Iyer also counted contributions made by the ministries of mines, corporate affairs and public enterprises towards the Swachh Bharat Pakhwada held earlier.
In last year’s budget, the government had proposed a two per cent Swachh Bharat cess on Service Tax and allowed 100 per cent deduction on investment in Swachh Bharat Kosh.
Meanwhile, the government is also exploring the option where entities can adopt villages and make them open defecation free.
