New Delhi, Sep 18 (UNI) Swachhta movement is gradually gaining momentum across the country with schools and students playing an important role in making it successful, Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar said here on Tuesday.
"No one would have thought of separate toilets for boys and girls in schools but it has become a reality now. More than 4.5 lakh toilets were constructed in the first year itself when Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for Swachhta Abhiyan in 2014," said Mr Javadekar at Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar function which was being held here at Dr Ambedkar International Center on Tuesday.
Mr Javadekar, hailing the Swachhta Abhiyan in schools, said students are real swachhagiris and making toilets in schools also brings drastic change in drop out numbers. Swachhta Abhiyan will not be successful without public participation. Cleanliness drive must be a 'Jan Aandolan' campaign and mindset should be changed.
"Films like Toilet-Ek Prem Katha and Padman shows that change is there. People appreciate such movies which are dealing with issues of hygiene," said the HRD minister and awarded 52 schools for this Swachhta drive.
"Keeping hygiene is important but that should not be limited to schools only. Behavioural change is must. Then only the country would become a Clean and disease free India," added Mr Javadekar.
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