World Toilet Day: Mega Campaign Launched To Transform Public And Community Toilets In All Urban Areas

The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched Toilets 2.0 campaign at an event on 19 November at Bengaluru marking the World Toilet Day (WTD) 2022.

The campaign aims to change the face of public and community toilets in urban India through collective action involving citizens and urban local bodies (ULB).

Launching the Toilets 2.0 campaign, the Minister said “India is set to go beyond the ODF (open defecation free) narrative. Clean and safe public restrooms and public spaces will improve the experience and quality of public life and that is why I am delighted to launch Toilets 2.0 campaign.”

He expressed confidence that all stakeholders would act together to make the campaign a resounding success.

Addressing the inaugural session, Secretary Manoj Joshi  reminded the participants that the sanitation journey is a continuous one and requires institutional solutions and  the ODF++ protocol and certification for cities is given to ensure that human waste is contained safely.

Joshi further said that already 25 per cent of our cities have attained this status.  A water plus certification is given to cities which do not discharge untreated used water into the environment.

These initiatives align perfectly with the theme of the WTD 2022  ‘Groundwater and sanitation – making the invisible visible’.

By the end of the mission, it is expected that 100 per cent of our cities will be certified ODF++ and at least 50 per cent will attain Water plus status.

Joint Secretary Roopa Mishra stated that the campaign will energise and bring the states cities and citizens together to take forward our rich sanitation legacy that will script the Toilets 2.0 journey of India.

Dignitaries from the Government of Karnataka also commended the Toilets 2.0 campaign and committed to active participation.