UNICEF calls India ODF status Exceptional Achievement in 4 years |
On 1st October at the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention (MGISC) in Delhi, opening plenary focus was on world's progress to achieve UN SDGs, particularly No. 6, and India's role through Swachch Bharat Abhiyan, focused on No. 6.2. India's Minister for Drinking Water & Sanitation, Uma Bharti, called India's achievement a humungous effort. UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore on her maiden weeklong visit to India complimented Modi Government for 'Exceptional Accomplishment in 4 years'. Since 1990, globally 2.1 billion people gained access to sanitation. To reduce open defecators by 250 million by 2021 to achieve the 2030 goal and to target 90% open defecators in just 26 countries, UNICEF homed in on 3 accelerators - community based approach to sanitation, involving youth & children and public private partnership. Fore said reward lay in savings of Rs. 50,000 per home with sanitation, and toilet related good market growing to $ 62 billion in India by 2021. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was cheered for achieving 100 percent ODF status for state from 40 percent in just 3 years. He explained how the will of the government supported by enthusiasm of the people resulted in greatest ever use of toilets in India.
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