AMN / NEW DELHI
The Swachh Bharat Mission completes three years today. The mission was launched in 2014 by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make the country Open Defecation Free (ODF) and achieve 100 percent sanitation coverage by October 2019. The mission has become a mass movement and people are joining it enthusiastically.
Mr. Modi today presented the swacchhta awards to the participants in various categories on the third anniversary of the Swacchh Bharat Mission at a function in New Delhi.
Addressing the function on the third anniversary of the Swacchh Bharat Mission in New Delhi, Mr. Modi said, India has accepted the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan and the movement has become a people’s movement due to the ‘Siddhi’ of Swachhagrahis. He said that clean India can be achieved only if 125 crore countrymen come together. He said that the Swachhta Abhiyan has now become a dream of common man in the country and Kids are the biggest ambassador of Swachhta.
Prime Minister said, a positive spirit of competition has been created because of the mission. He said, Swachhta should be the responsibility of every person of the country. Prime Minister said, by ensuring cleanliness, one can get rid of illness caused by uncleanliness and dirt.
He also congratulated all those who supported and participated in the Swachhata Hi Seva movement which was launched on 15th of last month. He appealed to the people to continue the momentum of Swachh Bharat built by the movement.
Speaking on the occasion, Drinking, Water and Sanitation Minister Uma Bharti said, cleanliness is the culture and habit. She said, the number of people who use to defecate in open has now decreased to 30 crore from 60 crore.
Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri said, Swachh Bharat Mission has become the mass movement in the country. He said, more than 80 lakh people participated in Swacchat Hi Sewa campaign in cities and towns. Mr. Puri said that presently 94.2 Mega Watt energy is being generated from waste.
Minister of state for Drinking water S S Ahluwalia said, Out of the set target, more than 69 percent toilets have been constructed. He said, great enthusiasm was also seen among the people about essay and painting competition organised under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.