'Gandagi ko zindagi maan...': Modi on Swachh Bharat's 10 years
What's the story
Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the 10th anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission on Wednesday with a scathing critique of previous governments.
He accused them of neglecting crucial sanitation issues and forcing citizens to live in unsanitary conditions.
"It seems like they had accepted filth as life," he said during his address, urging the nation to continue striving for cleanliness and dignity for all citizens.
Citizen participation
PM Modi's call to action on cleanliness
On the occasion, PM Modi also participated in cleanliness-related activities with young friends. He urged citizens to contribute to the cleanliness movement by engaging in similar activities.
"Today, we mark #10YearsOfSwachhBharat, a momentous collective effort to make India Swachh and ensure improved sanitation facilities," he said.
The PM expressed his gratitude for the widespread support behind the mission and saluted all those who have worked tirelessly to make this movement a success.
Past neglect
PM Modi criticizes previous governments' sanitation policies
In his address, PM Modi criticized previous governments for their lack of attention to sanitation issues.
He stated that they never viewed dirtiness and lack of toilets as national concerns, resulting in people living in unhygienic conditions.
"When I gave the call for Swachh Bharat from the ramparts of the Red Fort, I was mocked. I am still mocked," he said, recalling skepticism he faced when launching the cleanliness drive.
Mission impact
PM Modi highlights progress and challenges under Swachh Bharat
PM Modi also highlighted the progress made under the Swachh Bharat initiative.
He noted that a decade ago, over 60% of the population was forced to defecate in the open, a situation he described as a violation of human dignity.
"This was against human respect; it was an insult to especially the Dalits, backward classes, and tribal communities," he said.
The prime minister emphasized how poor sanitation particularly affected women and marginalized communities.
Women empowerment
Swachh Bharat Mission's impact on women's lives
The prime minister underscored that one of the critical outcomes of the Swachh Bharat Mission has been improving women's lives.
He highlighted how access to clean toilets has brought relief to women who previously faced significant hardships due to a lack of facilities.
"The first job of a Prime Minister is to make the lives of common man easy," he said, emphasizing his focus on addressing basic sanitation needs like toilets and sanitary pads.