Ministry of Urban Development and Bill and Milinda Gates Foundation have in principle, agreed on a partnership to promote user friendly toilets to ensure universal sanitation in India with the objective of addressing sanitation related health concerns. Urban Development Minister Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu and Shri Bill Gates today held extensive discussion on the magnitude of providing toilets to every household in the country. Shri Gates enquired about the Government of India's sanitation initiatives and the requirement of toilets.
Shri Naidu gave a detailed account of the government's initiatives to ensure housing for all by the year 2022 and the 'Swachchh Bharat Mission' to be launched on October 2, 2014 under which every household is to be enabled with toilet facility by 2019. He informed that under the new housing initiative, every affordable house to be constructed in urban areas would be provided with toilet facilities. He said that about 12 million urban households do not have toilet facilities at present and this problem is sought to be addressed to. Shri Naidu said that the government would like to benefit from the initiatives and experience of Bill and Milinda Gates Foundation in sanitation sector since about 3 crore new houses are to be constructed in urban areas alone to address housing shortage, particularly, of the Economically Weaker Sections and Low Income Groups. He said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has accorded top priority for ensuring universal sanitation in the country.
Appreciating the intensive focus of the government on improving sanitation in the country, Shri Bill Gates said the Foundation's core competency is research and technology promotion and would like to share them with the Government of India. He stressed on promoting quality and user friendly toilets to ensure their proper use.
Further to the discussions, it has been agreed that the Ministry of Urban Development and Bill and Milinda Gates Foundation would cooperate in four areas, viz., Innovative Technology Demonstration in respect of toilets and sewage management, Promoting decentralized sewerage systems that enable disposal of sewage at habitation level rather than pooling of sewage, Capacity building in sanitation sector and Promoting use of toilets.
Shri Venkaiah Naidu has complimented Shri Bill Gates for his philanthropic initiatives seeking primarily, to address basic needs of the people across the world. He observed that 'acquiring wealth through hard work and enterprise is noteworthy but serving humanity using it is nobler and you (Shri Bill Gates) are a shining example in this regard.'
AAR
Shri Naidu gave a detailed account of the government's initiatives to ensure housing for all by the year 2022 and the 'Swachchh Bharat Mission' to be launched on October 2, 2014 under which every household is to be enabled with toilet facility by 2019. He informed that under the new housing initiative, every affordable house to be constructed in urban areas would be provided with toilet facilities. He said that about 12 million urban households do not have toilet facilities at present and this problem is sought to be addressed to. Shri Naidu said that the government would like to benefit from the initiatives and experience of Bill and Milinda Gates Foundation in sanitation sector since about 3 crore new houses are to be constructed in urban areas alone to address housing shortage, particularly, of the Economically Weaker Sections and Low Income Groups. He said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has accorded top priority for ensuring universal sanitation in the country.
Appreciating the intensive focus of the government on improving sanitation in the country, Shri Bill Gates said the Foundation's core competency is research and technology promotion and would like to share them with the Government of India. He stressed on promoting quality and user friendly toilets to ensure their proper use.
Further to the discussions, it has been agreed that the Ministry of Urban Development and Bill and Milinda Gates Foundation would cooperate in four areas, viz., Innovative Technology Demonstration in respect of toilets and sewage management, Promoting decentralized sewerage systems that enable disposal of sewage at habitation level rather than pooling of sewage, Capacity building in sanitation sector and Promoting use of toilets.
Shri Venkaiah Naidu has complimented Shri Bill Gates for his philanthropic initiatives seeking primarily, to address basic needs of the people across the world. He observed that 'acquiring wealth through hard work and enterprise is noteworthy but serving humanity using it is nobler and you (Shri Bill Gates) are a shining example in this regard.'
AAR
