New Delhi: With 96 per cent of sanitation coverage today from mere 38 per cent back in 2014 and construction of nearly 9 crore toilets in four years, India celebrates these achievements in the sanitation field on the occasion of World Toilet Day on November 19. Ministers, leaders, and experts and politicians used the occasion to highlight country’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan success. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to improve sanitation facilities and said, “Today, on World Toilet Day, we reiterate our commitment towards enhancing cleanliness and sanitation facilities across the nation. We in India take pride at the remarkable speed with which sanitation cover has increased in the last four years.”
Today, on World Toilet Day, we reiterate our commitment towards enhancing cleanliness and sanitation facilities across the nation.
We in India take pride at the remarkable speed with which sanitation cover has increased in the last four years.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 19, 2018
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu urged people to work towards fulfilling the dream of a Swachh Nation, he said, “On this World Toilet Day, let us reaffirm our pledge to work together to make India completely open defecation free. Cleanliness is a virtue. Let us inculcate this virtue in and every facet of our life. #WorldToiletDay.”
On this World Toilet Day, let us reaffirm our pledge to work together to make India completely open defecation free. Cleanliness is a virtue. Let us inculcate this virtue in and every facet of our life. #WorldToiletDay
— Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) November 19, 2018
Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis talked about how Maharashtra is working on ODF sustainability after achieving the ODF tag, he added, “Where there is will, there is a way! Salute to our Hon PM @narendramodi ji for such immense efforts and push to make India Clean! All cities of Maharashtra are ODF and now working towards making ‘use of toilet’ a habit! #WorldToiletDay”
Where there is will, there is a way!
Salute to our Hon PM @narendramodi ji for such immense efforts and push to make India Clean!
All cities of Maharashtra are ODF and now working towards making ‘use of toilet’ a habit!#WorldToiletDay pic.twitter.com/SRH4KE2ay5— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) November 19, 2018
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu also talked about how the state is planning to achieve ODF sustainability this year, he added,
On #WorldToiletDay, reiterating my commitment to ensure every citizen has a safe toilet as part of the efforts to achieve SDG 6: sanitation and water. Building 35.61 Lac toilets, AP had attained the ODF status. Measures are being taken to retain this and aim for ODF+ status by December.
On #WorldToiletDay, reiterating my commitment to ensure every citizen has a safe toilet as part of the efforts to achieve SDG 6: sanitation and water. Building 35.61 Lac toilets, AP had attained the ODF status. Measures are being taken to retain this & aim for ODF+ status by Dec.
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) November 19, 2018
West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee highlighted the success of Mission Nirmal Bangla programme and said, “On #WorldToiletDay today, let us pledge to eradicate the menace of open defecation. Our State’s flagship programme, #MissionNirmalBangla, has been very successful. As of May, 2018, 11 districts, 33,261 Villages, 2,621 Gram Panchayats and 255 Blocks in the State have become #ODF.”
On #WorldToiletDay today, let us pledge to eradicate the menace of open defecation. Our State’s flagship programme, #MissionNirmalBangla, has been very successful. As of May, 2018, 11 districts, 33,261 Villages, 2,621 Gram Panchayats and 255 Blocks in the State have become #ODF
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) November 19, 2018
Urging people to contribute towards the ongoing Swachh Bharat Mission and help make India an open defecation free country, Union Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said,
On this World Toilet Day, let us work together to make India completely open defecation free. Under @swachhbharat mission initiative, toilets are being constructed in all the houses of Indian villages and cities #WorldToiletDay #ODF @HardeepSPuri @SwachhBharatGov @UNinIndia
On this World Toilet Day, let us work together to make India completely open defecation free. Under @swachhbharat mission initiative, toilets are being constructed in all the houses of Indian villages and cities #WorldToiletDay #ODF @HardeepSPuri @SwachhBharatGov @UNinIndia pic.twitter.com/p7jLOwenkt
— Dr. Subhash Bhamre (@DrSubhashMoS) November 19, 2018
Sharing the success story of Swachh Bharat Mission, India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin said, World Toilet Day (19 November) C the Change in India..
World Toilet Day (19 November)
C the Change in India…1/2#SwachhBharatMission #WorldToiletDay #GlobalGoals pic.twitter.com/O6nvTPxOoq
— Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) November 19, 2018
World Toilet Day (19 November)
C the Change India’s Initiative is making globally…2/2#SwachhBharatMission #WorldToiletDay #GlobalGoals pic.twitter.com/Bgf45xGkAJ
— Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) November 19, 2018
Also Read: World Toilet Day 2018: How India Is Gearing Up For The ‘D-Day’ To Achieve The Dream Of Swachh Bharat
In four years, nearly 9 crore toilets have been constructed, whereas more than 5 lakh villages, 530 districts, 25 states and Union Territories have achieved the open defecation free (ODF) status. This year, the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MoDW&S) decided to celebrate November 19 as “Swachh Bharat World Toilet Day ” and started a special ‘World Toilet Day Contest’ from November 9 to November 19, wherein all districts and states in India were asked to conduct various sanitation related activities so that individuals can be motivated to do their best in achieving country’s open defecation free targets by October 2, 2019 and to achieve ODF sustainability in the areas that have successfully achieved the ODF status.
Moreover, this year, India also aims to educate people on the importance of using nature-based sanitation solutions such as composting toilets so that environment can be saved.
Also Read: World Toilet Day 2018: How Women-Friendly Toilets Can Improve Cleanliness And Hygiene In India
NDTV – Dettol Banega Swachh India campaign lends support to the Government of India’s Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). Helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan, the campaign aims to spread awareness about hygiene and sanitation, the importance of building toilets and making India open defecation free (ODF) by October 2019, a target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when he launched Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in 2014. Over the years, the campaign has widened its scope to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and menstrual hygiene. The campaign has also focused extensively on marine pollution, clean Ganga Project and rejuvenation of Yamuna, two of India’s major river bodies.
