Today is World Toilet Day. This day is being observed to create awareness about sanitation and encourage people to use toilets.
In a message Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu said poor sanitation increases the risk of transmission of diseases. He said hygiene and sanitation should be a priority for healthy communities and a healthy nation. He urged the people to reaffirm their commitment to keep India open defecation free.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India has strengthened its resolve of ‘Toilet for All’. In a tweet, Mr Modi said that the last few years have seen an unparalleled achievement of providing hygienic toilets to crores of Indians. He said, it has brought tremendous health benefits along with dignity, especially to our Nari Shakti.
Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation of Ministry of Jal Shakti is celebrating ‘World Toilet Day’ under ‘Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen for promoting awareness on access to safe sanitation. On this occasion, top districts and States are being felicitated with ‘Swachhata Puraskar’.
“The theme of this year’s World Toilet Day is sustainable sanitation and climate change. Severe effects of climate change like floods, drought and rising sea levels are threatening sanitation systems and increasing health risks.
Safe and hygienic toilets form the strongest defence mechanism against COVID19 and other diseases. In the last few years, India has taken remarkable steps to inculcate the practice of safe and hygienic sanitation behaviour under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
This drive not only changed the age-old habits of millions of people, but also increased their productivity while protecting them from diseases.
It also paved the way for construction of over 11 crore household toilets and conversion of more than six lakh villages into open defecation free.