The Union Minister of Urban Development, Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the 9th foundation day of The Foundation for Restoration of National Values (FRNV). The event was co-sponsored by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and ‘Swachh Bharat’ was the theme of the event.
Addressing the gathering, Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu complimented FRNV for selecting Swachh Bharat as the theme for its foundation day. “The lack of cleanliness and unhygienic living conditions that we see in India today is a reflection of rapidly declining values and fading culture. Mounds of garbage on the road, littering in public places, destroying forests, clearly reflect that there is complete lack of respect for others and basic human values. There is a need to radically change our perception of ‘waste’ as ‘assets’ or ‘resources’ rather than something to be discarded.”
Shri Naidu said that Swachh Bharat Mission, launched in October, 2014, is the biggest ever mass mobilization undertaken, to make the country clean and that women are playing a key role in this movement.
The Swachh Bharat mission has gained significant momentum over the last three years. He said that 33, 76,793 Individual Household Toilets and 1, 28,946 Community Toilet Seats have so far been built. 688 cities have been so far declared Open Defecation free (ODF) and 531 of them have been independently verified and certified as ODF. Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat have declared all cities and towns as ODF. Shri Naidu said that 100% Door to Door collection and transport of Municipal Solid Waste has been achieved in 43,200 wards out of the total 81,015 urban wards.
The Minister further said that in a short span of about three years, the initiative Swachh Bharat Mission has truly become a people’s movement in the country and it is only because of involvement of Public Representatives, SHGs, officials, media, NGOs, UN agencies, celebrities, educational institutions, trade unions, Business Icons and Spiritual leaders.
During the event, Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu also released a Souvenir, which contains the case studies on Waste Management.
The President, FRNV Dr E.Sreedharan said that Swachh Bharat Mission is more important than some of the economic reforms ushered in the country. “Swachh Bharat initiative deserves all our support and assistance. Cleanliness shall start from our heart, our home and our surroundings.”
