Campaign like Swachh Bharat needed to overcome sustainable development challenges: Norwegian PM

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg Monday lauded her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi's "everyday, normal life politics" that dealt with direct problems of the people as she cited the example of Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan.

She said the campaign might seem "not-so-visionary, not up in the skies" but it is needed to solve the sustainable development challenges because sanitation is an extremely important issue.

Solberg also said India and Norway can collaborate on innovation in the field of education by utilising technology, especially in rural areas.

The prime minister Monday visited a government primary and middle school in Nithora village of Ghaziabad's Loni area where she met with children, teachers and locals to interact on issues such as sanitation and female literacy.

The Scandinavian leader, who is on a three-day visit to India, stressed that girls' education is the most important development rule not just for girls' rights but for any country's development.

"No country can only use half of its potential, half of its talent," she said, noting that it was "unfair" that girls have so far been "deprived" of same education opportunities as boys due to various factors, including sanitation.

"The fact that girls have toilets and sanitary facilities makes it much easier when you are on period, which is one of the biggest obstacles for girls to continue education. We know from different countries of the world that girls often leave school at the age of 10, 11 or 12 because their parents withhold them for domestic duties and also because they feel unclean, and there is no sanitary system that could make it possible," she told reporters.

Asked for her views on PM Modi-initiated Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, she said, "I think that's a man doing everyday, normal life politics. That is great, because as we see here, sanitation is getting girls to go to school. So I think it's great and addressing the direct problems."
To a question on reservation as a means to promote gender equality in institutions, she said, "I think representation is important and not to just pass laws."