India will be open defecation free by October 2: Sitharaman
New Delhi, : In celebration of 150th birth anniversary of Father of Nation Mahatama Gandhi, the government on Thursday announced that the country will be open defecation free by October 2 this year.
In her maiden Budget presentation in the Lok sabha, Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi had pledged to make India open defecation free by October 2, 2019 and I am happy to inform this august House that the country will be open defecation free by October 2 this year.”
On October 2 the country will celebrate 150th birth centenary of Mahatama Gandhi.
“9.6 crore toilets have been constructed since October 2, 2014. More than 5.6 lakh villages have become open defecation free. We have to build on this success. I propose to expand the Swachh Bharat mission to undertake sustainable sold waste management in every village,” Ms Sitharaman said.
She also added 95 per cent cities are open defecation free now.
UNI.