Jairam Ramesh appeals to eliminate open defecation

Chandigarh, July 6 (ANI): Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on Friday urged political leaders to support the ' Clean India campaign' to make the country free of open defecation in next ten years.

Interacting with reporters here, Ramesh said, "We have started Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Campaign). The movement can become successful only after it gets the backing of political leaders at all levels."

In order to eradicate the practice of open defecation in India, Ramesh said that there is a need to change the mindset of the people in urban as well as the rural areas.

"The Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan ( Clean India Campaign) is not a campaign to construct toilets but is a campaign to bring about change in the mindset of the people. There is a need to bring out a change in the behaviour pattern of the people," he added.

The Central government has provided financial aid to the village councils for effective waste management.

"We are providing village councils with financial aid for solid and liquid management waste through the assistance of the Centre. We are also allocating Rs.7, 00,000 to small village councils and rupees 20,00,000 to big village councils," Ramesh announced.

Jairam Ramesh disclosed that uranium contamination is another challenge before the country.

"The problem of uranium is new and there is a need for testing. A team of scientists has been formed and three months time has been given," he informed.

He reiterated his ministry's commitment to revamp the country's poor sanitation system, and the Planning Commission plans to allocate more funds for the same under the 12th Five-Year plan. (ANI)