- By Abhinav Gupta
- Wed, 02 Oct 2019 09:38 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Sabarmati | Jagran News Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that rural India has declared itself open defecation-free. The prime minister was speaking at a 'Swachh Bharat Diwas' programme on Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary at the Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad.
PM Modi also said the world appreciated India for providing toilets to over 60 crore people.
When Modi launched the ambitious Swachh Bharat (Clean India) campaign after becoming the prime minister in 2014, he had announced October 2, 2019 as the day India will be open defecation free (ODF), citing how Gandhi had laid immense stress on cleanliness and wanted the countrymen to pursue it.
"Today rural India and its villages have declared themselves 'open defecation-free'," he said.
"The whole world is appreciating and awarding us (for) providing toilets to over 60 crore people in 60 months by building over 11 crore toilets. The world is amazed by this," PM Modi said.
In February this year, news agency PTI had quoted a government official saying that over 4,000 urban cities have been declared open defecation free under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
PM Modi said sanitation, conservation of environment and animals were dear to Gandhiji. "Plastic is a major threat to all of them, so we have to achieve the goal to eradicate 'single-use plastic' from the country by 2022," he said.
According to a Reuters report, the government has shelved its plan to impose nationwide ban on single-use plastic on October 2.
The report quoted officials saying that the plan to outlaw six items would have been too disruptive for the industry at a time when the government is making efforts to revive the sinking economy.
Making the remarks at two separate public events, Modi also said a glimpse of the respect India has globally was seen during the 'HowdyModi' event in Houston.
PM Modi paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Sabarmati Ashram, visited the museum there, interacted with students and also went to Gandhi's house called Hriday Kunj inside the Ashram.
PM Modi also penned his thoughts in the visitors' book. He spent around 20 minutes at the Ashram. He was accompanied by Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
Gandhi established the Ashram in 1917 after his return from South Africa and stayed there till 1930. He also embarked on the 'Dandi yatra' from the venue in 1930 saying that he will return to the Ashram only after India gains independence.
Earlier, speaking at an event organised by BJP's state unit to felicitate him for his speech at the UN General Assembly, Modi said the world can see that India is at the forefront of several positive changes taking place globally.
"Respect for India is increasing all over. One can experience the change," he added.
"The strength and the value of Indian passport has increased. The world sees those holding Indian passport with respect," Modi said.
Modi said the recent 'HowdyModi' event in the US has become a talking point among world leaders he met after that programme.
"The fact that US President Donald Trump came to the Indian event and stayed there for such a long time was great. After speeches, when I requested him, he came for a round of stadium without considering security protocol. I thank him and all those who organised the event," Modi said.
"In a way, the world is looking at India with great eagerness. The world was curious about India, a huge country with a vibrant democracy and it is hopeful that India's participation will be most significant whenever there are opportunities to bring about global changes," he said.
