#DarwazaBand Campaign With Amitabh Bachchan And Anushka Sharma Promotes Use Of Toilets In Villages

The number of people defecating in the open has reduced from 55 crores in May 2014 to 35 crores in May 2017. Still concerns persist that despite new toilets being constructed under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, that these are not being used

Written By: Gopi Karelia |

May 30, 2017

'Darwaza Band’: Campaign To Promote Use Of Toilets In Villages Launched

Highlights

Goal of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is to increase toilet usage
The campaign is produced by the Ministry of Drinking Water And Sanitation
Efforts are being made to make the Swachh Bharat a ‘Jan Andolan’ movement

To bring a behavourial change with regard to toilet usage in rural areas of India, the government on May 30 launched an ‘aggressive’ campaign titled ‘Darwaza Band’ under the Swachh Bharat Mission. The campaign is produced by the Ministry of Drinking Water And Sanitation and is supported by the World Bank and aims to encourage behaviour change in men who have toilets but are not using them. Actor Amitabh Bachchan and Anushka Sharma have been roped in as campaign ambassadors to educate people about how open defecation leads to diseases.

The event was launched in Mumbai in presence of Amitabh Bachchan, Union Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation, Narendra Singh Tomar, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Parameswaran Iyer, and other Centre and State dignitaries in Mumbai. Officials from Maharashtra’s districts and gram panchayats also attended the event.

Also Read: Swachh Bharat, Swasth Bharat: Use Toilets And End Diseases, Says Amitabh Bachchan, Before Launch Of National Campaign To Promote Toilet Usage

Launching the campaign, Parameswaran Iyer said the campaign will aim to change people’s perception from ‘open defecation’ to ‘closed defecation’ especially for men. The goal of Swachh Bharat is not only to construct toilet but also increase toilet usage he said.

'दरवाज़ा बंद' कैंपेन का मेन फ़ोकस है 'पुरुषों' पर। – : श्री @paramiyer_ #DarwazaBand pic.twitter.com/DUAsQwYlwr

— Swachh Bharat I #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav (@swachhbharat) May 30, 2017

He also said that the number of people defecating in the open has reduced from 55 crores in May 2014 to 35 crores in May 2017.

'खुले में शौच करने वाले लोगों की संख्या 2014 में 55 करोड़ से घट कर 2017 में 35 करोड़ हो गयी है' – : श्री @paramiyer_ pic.twitter.com/L4i29Ikhq1

— Swachh Bharat I #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav (@swachhbharat) May 30, 2017

Mr Tomar said efforts at all levels are being made to make the Swachh Bharat a ‘Jan Andolan’ movement. He also congratulated Chief Minister Fadnavis for achieving 80% ODF in the state.

Assuring his fans and audiences of his support to cause of swachhta, Mr Bachchan gave a brief background to the development of the campaign and mentioned that the campaign talks about a safe space for people to defecate.

'खुले में शौच करने वालों के लिए भी दरवाज़ा बंद, और गलत काम करने वालों के लिए भी' – : श्री @SrBachchan #DarwazaBand pic.twitter.com/T7K96ldGme

— Swachh Bharat I #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav (@swachhbharat) May 30, 2017

Ahead of the event, Chief Minister Fadnavis reviewed the implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) programme in Maharashtra and said the state is committed to become ODF by March 2018. State champions working towards improving cleanliness levels in the state were awarded. An exhibition displaying various toilet technologies was also put up.

Also Read: Involving Community: How Shamli Became Uttar Pradesh’s First Open Defecation Free District