Clean India will make a ‘New India’ by 2022: Javadekar

New Delhi, Sept 19: Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar today said Swachhta campaign will make the target of ‘New India’ a success by 2022. Mr Javadekar presiding at a National WASH Champions Conclave said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making a New India has its route through Swachhta campaign. Clean toilets, clean surroundings and no infection/disease will make the vision of 'New India' a success by 2022.” He congratulated Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh sanitation for this initiative and said students are the ambassadors of Swachhta campaign. They know the importance of keeping the surroundings clean. “A total of 4.5 lakh toilets were constructed in the last one year across the country. More than two lakh villages were declared ODF. Swachhta campaign has become a Jan aandolan. Girls have started coming back to schools and the dropout rate has reduced,” said the HRD minister. “A five-day exercise was conducted in schools of Madhya Pradesh where students were taught how to wash hands and clean nails. The students were told about clean tanks and water. Water infection leads to the number of diseases,” said the minister. “Swachhta also promotes tourism; a clean country is always liked and loved by tourists,” concluded Mr Javadekar. The event was a joint initiative taken by HRD and Health and Family Welfare, where MoS Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel also graced the occasion besides other dignitaries and officials of both the ministries and students. UNI