Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday sought the involvement of spiritual leaders to create awareness among people to construct toilets and help bring a behavioural change among them towards cleanliness as envisaged under the Swachchh Bharat Mission. Modi had launched ‘Clean India’ campaign last year with an aim to make the country open defecation free by 2019.
During the review of the progress of his pet project at a high-level meeting here, the PM also underlined that construction of toilets in habitations on the banks of River Ganga should receive the highest priority.
Reviewing efforts at generating awareness and attitudinal change towards cleanliness, “the PM said spiritual leaders should be associated with such efforts, especially during major congregational events such as the Jagannath Yatra and the Kumbh Mela,” according to a statement here by the PMO.
He said motivational incentives such as awards should also be instituted through official channels. In rural areas, the Prime Minister suggested quiz competitions among students to promote awareness.
Modi was briefed on the progress towards toilet construction in all States. After comprehensively reviewing the situation, the PM directed concerned officers to specially coordinate with States which are lagging in toilet construction.
The PM also called for leveraging the huge interest that Swachchh Bharat has generated among the Indian diaspora.
Minister for Urban Development Venkaiah Naidu, and Minister for Rural Development Chaudhary Birender Singh besides top officers of the respective Ministries, NITI Aayog and the PMO were present at the meeting.
Under the Mission, while the urban development ministry is the nodal agency responsible for monitoring and supervision of the mission in across all the 4,041 statutory towns, the Drinking Water and Sanitation Ministry has the same responsibility for rural areas. The mission has been divided into two sub categories — gramin (rural) and urban.