“Nirmal Bharat Yatra”

Ministry of rural development launched a campaign named Nirmal Bharat Yatra which aims at making the country free from open defecation.

• The yatra began from Wardha District of Maharashtra and will go through Indore, Kota, Gwalior, and Gorakhpur and will conclude in Bettiah district of Bihar.
• Several NGOs and private companies are promoting the campaign which will be organized at the cost of over Rs 12 crore and will to target over 9 crore people to spread awareness about sanitation.
• As per World Health Organisation and UNICEF:

         with 626 million people defecating in the open, India has largest population without access to toilets. 

• Poor sanitation and hygiene is the single biggest cause of malnutrition in India.
• Sikkim is the state which has achieved the status of ODF (Open Defecation Free).
•  Sanitation Ambassador is the well known actress: Ms. Vidya Balan