Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Aug 30: Global Inter-faith WASH Alliance India (GIWA) with technical support by UNICEF and in collaboration with Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC) Leh organized “Sarva Dharma Swachhta Evam Sadbhavana Sankalp Swachh Ladakh, Swachh Bharat” campaign.
Union Minister for Science & Technology Dr Harsh Vardhan, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said that science and technology can contribute for Swachhta campaign turning the waste into wealth through advance waste management programme.
In this regard, he said that Indian Institute of Petroleum has successfully experimented the process to turn waste plastic into petrol or diesel and National Physicals Laboratory has turned plastic waste to low cost toilet. “These are the achievements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who lays thrust on using science and technology for the welfare of people”, he added.
Union Minister for Panchayati Raj, Rural Development and Drinking Water & Sanitation Narendra Singh Tomar said that religious leaders have greater impact on masses and their message on sanitation and personnel hygiene will be a major boost to Prime Minister’s “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” campaign. He also appealed the people to make Ladakh “Open Defecation Free” (ODF).
The congregation of renowned personalities was held in Ladakh to engage religious leaders to deliver messages on improved sanitation, personnel hygiene and safe drinking water and Open Defecation Free (ODF), said GIWA Branch Office and MIMC Founder President Bhikkhu Sanghasena.
He also expressed his concern over serious threat of shrinking glaciers which not only provide drinking water but also serve as lifeline for irrigating the agriculture field. He stressed for finding solution to this problem to safeguard Himalayan glacier.
Minister for Cooperative & Ladakh Affair, Chering Dorjay mentioned about compose toilet practice in Ladakh with no use of water and added that people are much conscious about cleanliness. He also spoke about shrinking of glaciers and urged for some remedies.
Speaking on the occasion, MLA Nawang Rigzin Jora hailed Prime Minister’s speech in Seoul mentioning “multi-culturism” as soul of India and added that every citizen of the country should feel the sense of security otherwise there is no question of development and prosperity.
WASH specialist UNICEF India Manish Wasuja said that 56 crore people in India do open defecation as a result of which 13 children die every hour due to diarrhoea and out of which we can save 11 children if we go for effective hygiene practice requiring community level efforts. “As 98% of the world population believes in some faith such campaigns through religious leaders will have impact on masses”, he added.
GIWA Co-founder Swami Chidanand Saraswati, former Jathedar Akal Takht (Golden temple) Gurubachan Singh, Dargah Dewan of Ajmer Sharif in Rajasthan Diwan Zainul Abedin Khan, Chosje Togdan Rinpochey, Global Imam Council, India National President Maulana Imam Luqman Tarapuri, All India Muslim Personal Law Board Vice President Maulana Kalbe Sadiq Sabeh, Senior RSS Pracharak Indresh Kumar, Asoka Mission New Delhi President Ven. Lama Lobzang, Guru Ram Das Sikh Mission USA Chairman Satpal Singh Khalsa, Mahamandeleshwar Swami Harichetnanandji Maharaj Haridwar, Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana President Dr Negendra, Bangla Sahib Gurudwara New Delhi Chairman Paramjit Singh Chandhok, Global Interfaith WASH Alliance Programe & Policy Director Swamini Adityanda Saraswati, Spiritual teacher Dr Binny Sareen and Sadhvi Bhagawati secretary General Global Interfaith also spoke on the occasion.
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