The Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR), the Research Triangle Institute (RTI), the Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Water for Women Fund Initiative together observed the World Toilet Day on Friday.
Australian Embassy First Secretary Caroline Mills said, “The Swachh Bharat Mission, launched on October 2, 2014 with an aim to build a clean and open defecation free India by October 2, 2019, is a clear commitment to address such a critical social determinant of health. Since the inception of the programme, rural sanitation coverage of India has improved significantly.”
However, given the work to do, she emphasized that, Australia is committed to being part of the solution and
pointed out that the Government’s new Water for Women programme has a strong emphasis on gender equality and social inclusion particularly women and girls, people with disabilities, and the elderly. Principal Secretary, Department of Social Security and Employment for Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD), Nitin Chandra emphasized that just as all stakeholders have come together to observe World Toilet Day, such convergence of community, civil society and different Government departments must happen consistently so that a department like SSEPD which works with persons with disability, transgender persons and elderly can ensure that their concerns are mainstreamed. Mission Director, Swachha Bharat Mission (Urban), Housing and Urban Development, Government of Odisha Sangramjit Nayak stated that while the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation is determined to make Bhubaneswar city completely open defecation free by end of 2018, the civil society and community organisations must support the corporation in effecting and sustaining behaviour change.
Many community change agents who are members of Community Management Committee, Mahila Arogya Samiti, SHG and Youth Club members were felicitated.