Hema Malini launches public toilets programme in Mathura

Bharatiya Janata Party MP and actor Hema Malini on Saturday appealed to women across the country to give top priority to construction and use of hygienic toilets as they are vital for health.

Launching the first set of toilets built by Sulabh International in Rawal village, the birth place of Lord Krishna's consort Radha, she said by 2019 her aim is to ensure 100 percent toilets in her constituency.

Sulabh International has pledged to construct 50 toilets in Rawal village.

"With an aim to propagate the importance of toilets, we have chosen Mathura as it is the birthplace of Lord Krishna," said Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh movement.

Malini appreciated the ongoing Clean India Campaign and assured all possible help.

"We are committed to development of society and it is a little gesture towards service of the poor," she said.

Pathak stressed on the need for motivation towards use of toilets and called upon villagers to use and maintain toilets.

Stating that Sulabh would take steps to make the entire village open defecation-free, the Sulabh founder urged the two crore Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to provide funds for construction of toilets to make India open defection-free by 2019.

Nearly 12 crore toilets are required to be built by 2019 to realize the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Pathak said: "This is a big task, but together we can do it and Non Resident Indians can play a pivotal role in this. This is a unique opportunity for the NRIs to show their love for the country."

Stating that there are nearly two crore NRIs, and if each of them contributes to building six toilets over a span of three years, this target can easily be met, Pathak said an individual toilet costs approximately $500. So six toilets will cost a total of $3,000, or approximately Rs.2 lakh, which can be given over a period of three years.