In keeping with the promise of achhe din initiative of Prime Minister, State Bank of India and Sulabh International launched “Swachcha Vidyalaya” campaign for the country from the historic city of Varanasi, the lok Sabha constuency of Narendra Modi. SBI Chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya and Sulabh Sanitation movement Mentor Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak kicked off the clean school initiative by inaugurating first toilet at a primary school located in Shivpur locality in Varanasi.
lauding the effort of low-cost sanitation expert Sulabh in improving the sanitation scenario, the SBI chairman said, “We are confident that their expertise in this area will make the initiatie a grand success.” On the occasion, Dr Pathak thanked SBI for giving so much importance to the issue of sanitation in primary schools and hoped that such initiatives will certainly give boost to Modi’s ‘Clean India’ dream. First toilet complex under this new campaign was today inaugurated by SBI chairman at a primary school in. Varanasi’s Shivpur locality.
SBI chairperson announced the decision to adopt at least one district in every state of the country to ensure 100 per cent toilet coverage in primary school soon.SBI has started ‘Sawchcha Vidyalaya’ initiative in 9 states and toilets construction has already started.SBI will spend Rs. 20 crore for this initiatives this year , she added. Funds will not be an issue to improve sanitation in schools,She added. Under this campaign State Bank of India and Sulabh will work in improving sanitation facilities in government schools in rural areas across the country.
Sulabh’s attention towards cleanliness of the historic city of Varanasi is not new. This organisation runs public toilets for decades and has been maintaining some of the Ghats. Recently Sulabh not only cleaned Assi Ghat but also excavated at least 25 stairs which lay buried under mud for several decades. The cleaning of the famous Kashi Viswanath Temple is being done by this organisation.
Under recently launched CSR initiative of various other organizations, Sulabh conducted a survey of the target villages to identify beneficiaries, undertake construction of individual household toilets and carry out information education and motivation campaigns in different parts of the country.Under CSR scheme, Airtel’s Bharti Foundation joined hands with Sulabh to ensure 100 per cent sanitation coverage in Punjab’s ludhiana district. Around 12,000 toilets will be constructed by Sulabh International there.