New Delhi, Sep 28 (IANS) Union Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation Jairam Ramesh Thursday said it was the objective of the union government to make India an open defecation free country in ten years.
"It is our objective to make the country open defecation free in the next 10 years. This is a very important issue which needs to be made a national as well as a political issue," said Ramesh.
He was speaking at the pre-launch of 'Nirmal Bharat Yatra' which is a 55-day campaign for spreading awareness about sanitisation and cleanliness in five states of the country.
Starting from Wardha in Maharashtra Oct 3, the Yatra will travel to Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Kota (Rajasthan), Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh), Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), finally ending in Bettiah (Bihar).
"We cannot tackle the problem of malnutrition without sanitation and hygeine. This campaign will help us to promote the cause of sanitation and educate people about the pitfalls of defecating in the open," said the minister.
"For the next five years, the ministry has earmarked 1.07 lakh crore for drinking water and sanitation," he added.
Bollywood actress Vidya Balan, who is also the ambassador of the ministry, was present on the occasion.
"We have to inspire people to make this country open defecation free and i hope we will be able to change the thinking of people," Balan said.
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