Actress-turned-politician Hema Malini on Satrurday urged the women to attach top priority to the use of toilet at their homes while launching “Sulabh Sanitation Campaign” at Rawal village of Mathura, the birth place of Goddess Radha. Hema Malini announced her active involvement to motivate people and ensure 100 per cent sanitation coverage by 2019. Dedicating five modern toilets in the village, the BJP MP from Mathura claimed that Sulabh International has pledged to construct 50 more toilets there.
“Aiming to underlining the importance of toilets, we have chosen Mathura - the birthplace of lord Krishna,” said Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, Founder of Sulabh movement. Addressing a congreegation, Hema Malini appreciated the ongoing ‘Clean India Campaign’ and assured all possible help. “We are committed to development of society and it is a small gesture towards service of the poor,” she said.
Dr Pathak stressed the need for motivation towards use of toilets and exhorted villagers to use and maintain toilets. He said his organization would take steps to make the village free of open defecation.
The Sulabh International founder urged the 2 crore Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to provide funds for the construction of toilets to make India free of open defection by 2019. Nearly 12 crore toilets are to be built by 2019 to realize the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Dr. Pathak said, “This is an onerous task, but we can do it and NRIs can play a pivotal role in this. This is a unique opportunity for the NRIs to show their love for the country.” There are nearly two crore NRIs and if each of them contributes to building six toilets over three years, then the target can easily be achieved. An individual toilet costs approximately $500, so six toilets will cost a total of $3,000 or approximately Rs 2 lakh, which can be easily donated over three years.