Working for Swachhata is a service for mankind and dirt is a curse for society —President Ram Nath Kovind
Smart sanitation and smart waste management will help in achieving swachhata mission
President inaugurates Shirdi Airport &Centenary Celebrations of Samadhi of Sai Baba
Fulfilling the objectives of the Swachh Bharat Mission going on since 2014 will be the real tribute for Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary said President Ram Nath Kovind at a function in Mumbai to declare Urban Maharashtra as Open Defecation Free(ODF) Congratulating the state of Maharashtra in taking the lead in ODF the President urged everyone to keep toilets neat and clean .
Shri Kovind said that working for Swachhata is a service for mankind and dirt is a curse for society and impedes economic growth .He elaborated, by constructing toilets the incidence of water borne diseases can be reduced. Smart sanitation and smart waste management will help in achieving the swachhata mission ,the work done in this field in Maharashtra will be encouraging for other states .The president emphasised that Swachh Bharat will lead to a healthy and prosperous India.
The President felicitated few local bodies and swachhata workers at the launch of the ODF Maharashtra.
Earlier in the day the president inaugurated the Shirdi International Airport and flagged off the inaugural flight from Shirdi to Mumbai and also inaugurated the centenary year celebrations of the Samadhi of Shri Sai Baba in Shirdi.
Speaking in Shirdi the President said that in our country ,Sai Baba attracts people from every caste, religion ,sect and class .Using simple phrases like ‘Sabka Malik Ek Hai’,Sai Baba explained the philosophy of ‘Advaita’ to the common man .The influence of Sai Baba can be seen all over the world .
The President added that along with spiritual connectivity ,the country also needed physical connectivity through large infrastructure projects .He commended the building of the airport as a measure that would help pilgrims and visitors as well as trigger economic activity and job creation in Shirdi .He hoped that people in large numbers would use the Shirdi International Airport .
The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis said announcement of Urban Maharashtra as ODF is a historic moment for Maharashtra and a mass awareness program will be undertaken to educate the people. He further said that a three step validation process will take place before a city or a village is declared ODF in Maharashtra.
PIB/APS/NS
