India Open Defecation free by Mahatma 150th birth anniversary in 2019 |
Indian government`s Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation and UNICEF announced that India will host the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention (MGISC) in New Delhi 29 September – 2 October 2018 to be attended by over 50 minister-led delegations from high, middle, and low-income countries to learn about the best Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). The Modi government will highlight the success of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), or Clean India Mission, the world`s largest sanitation programme, and has resolved to make India Open Defecation Free by 2n October 2019 to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Parameswaran Iyer (IAS), Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, said “India has taken massive strides since launching the SBM on 2 October 2014, with an aim to build a Clean and Open Defecation Free (ODF) India by 2 October 2019.” Dr. Yasmin Ali Haque, UNICEF India Representative, said “SBM is a unique programme, represents a mass movement and has captured attention across the globe. The convention will be a platform to exchange ideas and foster collective effort to ensure that every girl and boy has access to safe drinking water and sanitation.” India`s rural sanitation coverage has jumped from 39% in Oct 2014 to over 92% by August 2018. Only 150 million today practice open defecation in villages versus 550 million in 2014.
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