AMN / NEW YORK
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the “Global Goalkeeper” award by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by his government. Mr Modi dedicated the award to those Indians who transformed the Swachh Bharat campaign into a “people’s movement” and accorded topmost priority to cleanliness in their day-to-day lives.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister said, when 130 crore people take a pledge, any challenge can be overcome. Mr Modi said, over 11 crore toilets were built in the country in the last five years, which is a record. Prime Minister said, the poor people and the women of India were benefitted the most by it.
Mr Modi said, the campaign has not only improved the lives of crores of Indians, but it has also played a significant role in achieving the goals set by the UN. The cleanliness campaign was launched by the Modi government during its first term on October 2, 2014.