RS Deputy Chairman calls open-defecation free India a big achievement

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh stated on Wednesday that an open-defecation free (ODF) India was a very big achievement, especially as the world commemorates the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. He mentioned that cleanliness had a direct relationship with good health and economic development. Singh contended that it was essential to embrace the Gandhian values for the betterment of society. He further recalled the initiatives taken by visionaries such as Vinoba Bhave and Ram Manohar Lohia. 

Read: PM Modi To Declare India Open Defecation Free On October 2

"No one was ready to believe earlier that India will become open-defecation free in such a short period of time. Now, it has become a reality. This is a very big achievement especially on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi."

Furthermore, he stated, "I would like to remind you that in 1952, Vinoba Bhave had launched a cleanliness drive in Kashi. Ram Manohar Lohia had said in the past that how women are facing problems due to the unavailability of toilets in rural India. They had to defecate in the open," he said. Singh added, "Making so many toilets were unimaginable in India but it has happened. Now, the country is set to achieve another milestone to become open-defecation free."

Read: Goa CM Opens Up On The State Receiving 'open Defecation Free' Status

The Centre's ODF push

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat later in the day. According to Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, the PM would declare the country open defecation-free in a function to be held at the Sabarmati Riverfront. Over 20,000 village heads would be present on the occasion. These include around 10,000 heads from Gujarat and another 10,000 from across the country. Patel also revealed that various dignitaries from around the world will grace the event, to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Several states like Goa have already achieved the ODF status. This is part of a larger effort on the part of the Centre in the pursuit of the 'Swachh Bharat' (Clean India) mission. 

Read: CM Khattar Takes Part In Swachhta Campaign; Hits Out At Congress

Read: Gandhi Jayanti: IIT Bhubaneswar Observes Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

(With inputs from ANI)