Swachh Bharat has potential to push economic growth: Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu

Apr 26, 2018

SDG 6 (Sanitation) will be achieved through collective effort: MoS, Housing & Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri

 

NEW DELHI, 26 April 2018: Commerce and Industry Minister Mr. Suresh Prabhu said today that Swachh Bharat program of the government would push economic growth in the country.

 

"Swachh Bharat can become a big change agent for India. It has huge potential to push economic growth. Once this campaign is successful, there will be economic growth because the moment sanitation issue is addressed, the public health will get addressed which will give a boost to economic growth," he said. 

He was addressing the 2^nd ISC-FICCI Sanitation Conclave and Sanitation Awards at FICCI. Mr. Prabhu further added that as a country we have made some progress, but lot more needs to be done. "Action may be initiated today but results will come later. Sanitation is something that requires effort of all, not just the government. Government can only motivate, facilitate and help but without self-motivation we cannot do it," said Mr. Prabhu.  

He also released the compendium of best practices of 'Business of Change - Thinking beyond Shitpots' and Accolades: A photo Journey of the Award Winners, 2018'.

Mr. Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, said that the government has a target of building 67 lakh household toilets and 5 lakhs public toilets before October 2019. "We are well on the way to achieving those goals but the heart of the issue is behavioural change. We will always be vulnerable if there is some deficiency in behavioural change that is required to make it a project of the people".

He emphasised that the UN Sustainable Development Goal-6 of ensuring access to water and sanitation, will be achieved mainly through the collective effort of all and are being supplemented by the programs being implemented by the government such as Swachh Bharat Mission.

Mr. Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Govt. of India said that sanitation coverage after Swachh Bharat has increased from 39% to 83%. There are 16 states and UTs which have become ODF. "Sanitation is now a revolution in India but the key concern is sustaining the Open Defecation Free status. The Open Defecation Free Sustainability (ODFS) Program aims at continuing and sustaining the ODF status".

Mr. Rashesh Shah, President, FICCI and Chairman & CEO, Edelweiss Group said that the first step to solve the poverty issue is tackling the sanitation and water problem and FICCI is supporting Swachh Bharat Campaign in a big way.

Ms Naina Lal Kidwai, Chair, India Sanitation Coalition in her welcome address said "Sanitation cuts across all CSR activities whether it is education, health, water or environment. The message of coalition is around collaboration and enabling everyone to do what they do better". 

The dignitaries also presented the ISC-FICCI Sanitation Awards in six categories to corporates and individuals for their contribution in the area.

 (List of winners appended below)

 

Also Read

• Toilet construction under Swachh Bharat to be completed before time: Minister
• Govt to meet Swachchh target before time: Puri
• 'Construction of toilets in urban areas to be completed soon'
• Building of toilets to finish ahead of schedule
• Swachh Bharat can tackle public health issues, promote tourism: Prabhu
• Behavioral Change in People and Private Sector Participation Important for Success of Swachh Bharat Mission : Hardeep Singh Puri

Event

• ISC-FICCI Sanitation Awards & Conclave 2018