SHRI AMIT SHAH

206 Pages·2017·20.58 MB·Afrikaans

Hon'ble BJP National President Shri Amit Shah scanning the 'SBI Buddy' code H
before entering the Sulabh Community Toilet Complex
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I HISTORICAL VISIT OF
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H SHRI AMIT SHAH
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SULABH INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANISATION 52
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In General Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council 11 A
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Sulabh Gram, Palam Dabri Road, New Delhi - 110 045 e.in H NATIONAL PRESIDENT, BHARATIyA JANATA PARTy
Tel. Nos. : 91-11-25031518, 25031519; Fax Nos : 91-11-25034014, 91-11-25055952 nlin
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E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] eme AT THE SULABH GRAM ON DECEMBER 20, 2016
Website: www.sulabhinternational.org, www.sulabhtoiletmuseum.org w.xtr
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I met a great man. A man with a great soul, great thought and great ideology.
A man who is influenced and inspired by Gandhi and Deen Dayal Upadhyay.
He thinks if Dalits have the talents, they should get the highest place in society.
I totally agree with Shri Amit Shah ji, as I have been thinking and working on
the same line for the last five decades. Above all, both of us dearly love our
mothers and faithfully follow what our mothers had taught us. Moreover, we
also share a common passion for khadi clothes, as khadi happens to be a great
economic support for the poor.
— Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak
Hkkjrh; turk ikVh Z ds ekuuh; jk"Vªh; vè;{k
Jh vfer 'kkg th dk
vfHkHkk"k.k
ea
p ij mifLFkr MkW- foUns'oj ikBd th] vknj.kh;k ekuw ?kks"k th] Jherh
veksyk ikBd th] Jh lehjsaæ pVthZ th] Jherh m"kk pkSeM+ th vkSj bl
ifo=k dk;Z eas tqM+s gq, ns'kHkj ls vk, gq, I;kjs Hkkb;ks vkSj cguks!
vkt eSa ,slh txg ij [kM+k jgdj vki lcls ckr dj jgk gw¡] tgk¡ iwjh l`f"V eas lcls
ifo=k dke esa tqM+s gq, yksx gaS] eSa ,slh laLFkk esa [kM+k jgdj ckr
dj jgk gw¡] tks nqfu;k ds lcls ikou dk;Z esa yxh gqbZ gSA ns[kus
rhu izdkj ds vkanksyu gksrs gaSµigyk
eas rks ;g dk;ZØe cgqr NksVk fn[k jgk gSA ge fliQZ 500&600
èkkfeZd vkanksyu gksrs gaS] nwljk
yksx gh ;gk¡ ij gSa] ikBd th us tks ,d cM+h nqfu;k [kM+h dh gS]
jktuhfrd vkanksyu gksrs gaS vkSj mldks ns[k jgs gSa] lqu jgs gaS] le> jgs gaS_ exj ;s dke tks gS]
oks dke vius&vkiesa fojkV~ gS vkSj eSa ekurk gw¡ fd bl dke dks
rhljk oSpkfjd vkanksyu gksrs gaSA
cgqr lky igys lekIr gks tkuk pkfg, FkkA
èkkfeZd vkanksyu ds vanj O;fDr;ksa
yxHkx 1968 ls ikBd th us vkanksyu 'kq: fd;k gksxk---* 68 dks
dh Hkkoukvksa dks lkFk esa ysdj vkxs
gh vxj eku ysa rks vktknh ds 20 lky ckn fdlh dks oSpkfjd
c<+uk gksrk gS( jktuhfrd vkanksyu
vkanksyu 'kq: djuk iM+k fd bl ns'k esa 'kkSpky; dh O;oLFkk
esa ,d y{; gksrk gS] ogka y{; dks lcds fy, gksA eSa lkekftd dk;ZdrkZ gw¡] jktuhfrd dk;ZdrkZ gw¡]
foifÙk;ksa ls vkSj foMacukvksa ls ?kcjkusokyk O;fDr ugha gw¡] cfYd
lkeus j[kdj vkxs c<+uk gksrk gS]
mlds lkeus O;fDr ds ukrs] laLFkk ds ukrs] lekt ds ukrs] yM+kbZ
exj tc dksbZ O;fDr ,d fopkj dks
djuh pkfg,] ,sls ewy dk dk;ZdrkZ gw¡A ;g tks LoPNrk dk
ysdj vkanksyu pykrk gS rks mldk
fopkj&vkanksyu lqyHk baVjus'kuy us pyk;k gS] vkt fn[k jgk gS
y{; bruk ljy ugha gksrk] cgqr fd ;g vkanksyu liQy jgk gSA
lkjh dfBukb;k¡ gksrh gaS] D;ksafd ;gk¡ rhu izdkj ds vkanksyu gksrs gaSµigyk èkkfeZd vkanksyu gksrs gaS]
ikuk dqN ugha gS nwljk jktuhfrd vkanksyu gksrs gaS vkSj rhljk oSpkfjd vkanksyu gksrs
gaSA èkkfeZd vkanksyu ds vanj O;fDr;ksa dh Hkkoukvksa dks lkFk esa
ysdj vkxs c<+uk gksrk gS_ jktuhfrd vkanksyu esa ,d y{; gksrk
gS] ogka y{; dks lkeus j[kdj vkxs c<+uk gksrk gS] exj tc dksbZ
O;fDr ,d fopkj dks ysdj vkanksyu pykrk gS rks mldk y{; bruk ljy ugha gksrk]
cgqr lkjh dfBukb;k¡ gksrh gaS] D;ksafd ;gk¡ ikuk dqN ugha gSA mlesa fliQZ nsuk gh nsuk
gS] bl izdkj ls fopkj&vkanksyu gksrk gSA vkSj blhfy, eSa eu ls esjh vksj ls] esjh
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^'kkSpky;&fuekZ.k* vkSj ^'kkSpky; ds mi;ksx ds laLdkj dk vkanksyu* Hkh vkrk gSA bl ns'k dks
[kqys esa 'kkSp ds vfHk'kki ls eqDr djkus] flj ij eSyk <ksus ds ?k`.kkLin O;olk; ls gjsd ukxfjd
dks eqDr dj nsuk tSlk cgqr cM+k vfHk;ku Hkkjr&ljdkj us vius gkFk esa fy;k gS
lexz ikVhZ dh vksj ls Jheku~ ikBd th dks ân; ls lkèkqokn nsuk pkgrk gw¡ fd mUgksaus bl dke dks vius thou
dk ea=k cuk;kA
xkaèkh th us vktknh ds vkanksyu ls tqM+us ds lkFk gh] xks[kys th ds vfHkizk; ds vkèkkj ij iwjs ns'k esas ?kweuk vkSj
mls le>uk 'kq: fd;kA vkSj og fcYdqy lgh FkkA vxj xkaèkh th dk Hkkjr&Hkze.k nf{k.k vfizQdk ls okfil vkus
ds ckn u gqvk gksrk] vkSj bruh ewyHkwr phtksa dks idM+k u gksrk rks vktknh Hkh ugha feyh gksrhA
d'ehj ls dU;kdqekjh vkSj xqtjkr ls dke:i (vle) rd iQSys gq, bl fojkV~ ns'k dks xkaèkh th us iwjs èkS;Z ds
lkFk ?kwedj ns[kkA ns'k dh leL;kvksa dks le>k Fkk vkSj ckn esa vktknh ds vkanksyu ds lkFk&lkFk vusd izdkj ds
,sls fopkjkas dks xkaèkh th vius deZ ds ekè;e ls lans'k cukdj NksM+ x,] rkfd vkusokyh lfn;ksa rd fganqLrku dk
mRFkku gksrk jgsA mleas ls ,d fopkj Fkk ^LoPNrk*A pkgs lknxh dh ckr gks] pkgs Hkkjrh;rk dh ckr gks] pkgs [kknh
dh ckr gks] pkgs LoPNrk dh ckr gksµbu lkjh phtksa dk vktknh ds vkanksyu ls dksbZ ysuk&nsuk ugha FkkA exj xkaèkh
th dk y{; fliQZ vktknh ugha Fkk] Hkkjr ns'k cgqr vkxs vk,] gekjs lkjs nw"k.kksa dks ,d&,d dj ge ihNs NksM+rs
tk,¡] blls eqDr gks tk,¡] ;s Hkh xka/h th dk y{; FkkA blhfy, LoPNrk dks mUgksaus vge eqn~nk cuk;kA vkSj fe=kks!
nqHkkZX; dh ckr gS fd vktknh ds brus lkyksa ds ckn Hkh LoPNrk ds laLdkj flafpr djus ds fy, fdlh dks vkxs
vkuk iM+rk gSA 'kkSpky; dk izpkj&izlkj vkSj 'kkSpky; cuus ds ckn mlds mi;ksx dh vknr yxkus ds fy, Hkh
vfHk;ku pykuk iM+rk gSA 'kkSpky; cu x;k gS_ exj tks O;fDr iwjk thou] 50&60 lky ls 'kkSp djus dh ,slh vknr
Mkys gq, gS fd mldh vknr Hkh cnyuk vius&vkiesa cgqr cM+h ckr gS] blds fy, Hkh vfHk;ku pykuk iM+rk gSA
tc ujsUæ HkkbZ izèkkuea=kh cus] rc ns'k ds lkeus cgqr lkjh leL;k,¡ Fkha vkSj rRdky fn[kusokyh leL;k,¡ FkhaA dksbZ
eg¡xkbZ dh ckr djrk Fkk] dksbZ lhekvkas dh lqj{kk dh ckr djrk Fkk] dksbZ efgykvksa dh lqj{kk dh ckr djrk Fkk]
dksbZ uhps fxjrs gq, th-Mh-ih- dh rks dksbZ fodkl&nj ds fxjrs xzkiQ dh ckr djrk Fkk] dksbZ csjkstxkjh dh ckr
djrk Fkk] dksbZ gj ?kj esa fctyh igq¡pkus dh ckr djrk Fkkµcgqr lkjh leL;k,¡ ml oDr pquko dk eqn~nk cuh Fkha]
exj ,slh Hkh leL;k,¡ Fkha] tks fn[kkbZ ugha iM+rh FkhaA vkSj ujsUæ HkkbZ us fn[kkbZ iM+usokyh leL;kvksa dks rks c[kwch
le>kA exj igyh ckj bl ns'k ds izèkkuea=kh us ykyfdys ds izkphj ls 'kkSpky; dk mYys[k dj iwjs ns'k dks ,d
,slh leL;k ij lkspus dh fn'kk eas etcwj dj fn;k fd vxj ge bl ij ugha lksprs gSa rks lekt ds ukrs ge viw.kZ
gaSA vkSj fe=kks] eSa ekurk gw¡ fd igys dh ljdkjksa us vxj bl dke dks tu&vkanksyu cuk;k gksrk rks vkt ;g leL;k
gksrh gh ughaA blesa eSa fdlh dk nks"k ugha fudkyuk pkgrk] ;s dksbZ jktuhfrd eap Hkh ugha gSA ujsUæ HkkbZ us lekt
dh ,slh leL;kvksa dh rjiQ è;ku fn;kA fliQZ ljdkj ,slh leL;kvksa dk fuokj.k djs] fliQZ ljdkj blds fuokj.k
ds fy, iz;kl djs] ljdkjh ;kstukvksa ls gh buds funku dk iz;kl gks] mldh txg lekt dh leL;kvksa dk fuokj.k
lekt dks lkFk ysdj djus dk ujsUæ HkkbZ us ,d u;k jkLrk fudkykA mlh esa ls ^csVh cpkvks] csVh i<+kvks* vkrk gSA
mlesa ls gh ^uekfe xaxs* vkrk gSA mleas ls gh ^'kkSpky; fuekZ.k* vkSj ^'kkSpky; ds mi;ksx ds laLdkj dk vkanksyu*
Hkh vkrk gSA bl ns'k dks [kqys esa 'kkSp ds vfHk'kki ls eqDr djkus] flj ij eSyk <ksus ds ?k`.kkLin O;olk; ls gjsd
ukxfjd dks eqDr dj nsuk tSlk cgqr cM+k vfHk;ku Hkkjr&ljdkj us vius gkFk esa fy;k gSA fe=kks] eSa ekurk gw¡ fd
ns'k esa ftrus Hkh dke gaS gekjs lkeus] mleas VkWi ekWLV izkb;kWfjVh dk vxj dksbZ dke gS rks lj ij eSyk <ksusokys
O;fDr dks ml vfHk'kki ls eqDr djk nsukA vkSj bl dke dks ujsUæ HkkbZ us ykyfdys ds Hkk"k.k ls u fliQZ dgk]
cfYd ljdkj dh izkb;kWfjVh okyk ,tsaMk cuk;k] ftrus Hkh ljdkj ds vaMjVsfdaXl gSa] xouZesaV dh vaMjVsfdaXl gSa]
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thjks osLV] thjks osLV] gaMªsM ijlsUV osLVst ] thjks osLV dh fn'kk esa LoPNrk ds dk;ZØe dks dSls tksM+uk
gS] ;s Jheku~ ikBd us iwjh nqfu;k dks crkus dk dke fd;k gSA vkSj eSa ekurk gw¡ fd 68 ls ysdj vkt
rd ikBd lkgc us yxHkx&yxHkx viuk iwjk thou bl dke ds fy, fn;k gS
mlds lektlsok dk tks mudk iQaM gksrk gS] mu lHkh dks 'kkSpky; dh vksj mUgksaus bafxr dj ds ,d cgqr cM+k
vkanksyu 'kq: fd;k gSA 29 djksM+ ds vklikl 'kkSpky;ksa dk fuekZ.k 'kq: gksuk vkSj mlds lkFk&lkFk ikBd lkgc
us Bhd gh dgk gS] cuus ls D;k gksrk gS] vxj mi;ksx djus yk;d ugha jgrk gS rks cuus dk dksbZ eryc gh ughaA
blds j[k&j[kko dh O;oLFkk vkSj bldh vknr Mkyus dk ,d izpkj&vfHk;ku Hkh Hkkjr&ljdkj us mBk;k gSA yxHkx
2]502 xk¡o [kqys esa 'kkSp dh izfØ;k ls Hkh eqDr gks x, gaSA 67 ftys [kqys eas 'kkSp dh izfØ;k ls eqDr gq, gSa vkSj
3 jkT; iwjs&ds&iwjs lj ij eSyk <ksus ds vfHk'kki vkSj [kqys esa 'kkSp djus dh izfØ;k ls eqDr gksdj vkt bl fn'kk
esa vkxs c<+ jgs gaSA exj gekjk dke cgqr dfBu gSA
vkt ;gk¡ ij dkiQh nsjh gks jgh Fkh] fiQj Hkh ,d rks ikBd th bruh fouezrk ls vkxzg djrs gSa fd budks dksbZ
^uk* gh ugha cksy ldrk gS vkSj nwljk] bUgksaus tks dke fd;k gS] og dke ns[kdj vkSj gj pht dks bruh ckjhdh ls
le>dj NksVh&NksVh phtksa dk mi;qDr fopkj djds ,d laiw.kZ pØ dh O;oLFkk cukbZ] laiw.kZ pØ! fe=kks] LoPNrk
ds ckjs esa esjh ekrk th xkaèkh th dh cgqr cM+h vuq;k;h FkhA rks cpiu ls [kknh] LoPNrkµbu lkjh phtksa dks
eaS lqurk vk;k gw¡] ns[krk Hkh vk;k gw¡ vkSj thou esa dgha&u&dgha eSaus viuk;k Hkh gSA exj eSaus LoPNrk ds brus
Mk;esU'kUl~ gks ldrs gSa] brus ifjek.k gks ldrs gSa] ;s igyh ckj vkt bl laLFkk esa ns[kkA
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thjks osLV] thjks osLV] gaMªsM ijlsUV osLVst ] thjks osLV dh fn'kk esa LoPNrk ds dk;ZØe dks dSls tksM+uk gS]
;s Jheku~ ikBd us iwjh nqfu;k dks crkus dk dke fd;k gS vkSj eSa ekurk gw¡ fd 68 ls ysdj vkt rd ikBd
lkgc us yxHkx&yxHkx viuk iwjk thou bl dke ds fy, fn;k gSA ikBd lkgc dks cgqr lkjs vokWMZ Hkh
feys gSaA Hkkjr&ljdkj us Hkh ^in~e*&vokWMZ ls lEekfur fd;k] nqfu;k&Hkj us vokWMZ fn, gSaA exj ikBd lkgc]
eSa vyx nqfu;k dk O;fDr gw¡A ;s vokWMZ dksbZ ek;us ugha j[krs] ;s lkjs vokWMZ ,d vksj_ vkSj ,d O;fDr] tks
lj ij eSyk <ksrk gS] mlls mldks eqfDr fnykdj mldk vk'khokZn tks vkidks izkIr gqvk gksxk] oks vokWMZ
,d rjiQ! nksuksa esa dksbZ rqyuk ugha gks ldrh! djksM+ksa yksxksa ds thou esa muds LokLF; dk lqèkkj] mudks
laLdkfjr thou nsus dk laLdkj vkSj LoPNrk ds dke ds lkFk tqM+s gq, yksxksa dk lkekftd l'kDrhdj.kµ
eSa ekurk gw¡ fd ;s cgqr cM+h ckr gSA
lqyHk baVjus'kuy esa ,d ckj igys Hkh vkus dk esjk dk;ZØe r; gqvk Fkk] exj vfuok;Z dkj.kksa ls eSa vk ugha ik;k
Fkk] vkt eSa ;gk¡ vk;kA bldks lquk cgqr Fkk] viuh vk¡[kksa ls ns[kk vkSj eSa eu ls dgrk gw¡ fe=kks] lekt esa cnyko
ds fy, tks laLFkk dke djrh gS] mldks fdl rjg dke djuk pkfg,] og ns[kuk gS rks lqyHk baVjus'kuy esa vkdj
ns[kuk pkfg,] le>uk pkfg,A
bl laLFkk ds lkFk tqM+s gq, Hkkjr&Hkj ls vk, gq, lHkh Hkkb;ksa vkSj cguksa dks eSa dguk pkgrk gw¡ fd cgqr vPNs
dke ds lkFk vki tqM+s gSaA bl dke ds lkFk tqM+us dk eryc gh gS fd blh ls vkRek dk dY;k.k gksrk gS vkSj
vkxs dh xfr feyrh gSA
vki lHkh dks vkSj lqyHk&ifjokj ds ns'k&Hkj esa iQSys gq, yk[kksa tqM+s gq, dk;ZdrkZvksa dks eSa ân; ls mudk vfHkuanu
djuk pkgrk gw¡ vkSj fo'ks"kdj Jheku~ ikBd th dks cgqr&cgqr lkèkqokn nsuk pkgrk gw¡ fd mUgksaus bl dke dks fd;k
vkSj eq>s ;gk¡ cqyk;k] esjk lEeku fd;k vkSj bruh vPNh xfrfofèk;ksa ls ifjfpr gksus dk eq>s ykHk fn;kA blfy,
ân; ls èkU;okn dj eSa viuh ckr dks lekIr djrk gw¡A ^Hkkjr ekrk dh t;!*
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Address of
Hon'ble National President of BJP
Shri Amit Shah
Dr.
Bindeshwar Pathakji, Hon’ble Manu Ghoshji, Smt.
Amola Pathakji, Shri Samirendra Chatterjeeji, Smt. Usha
Chaumarji, and all the brothers and sisters associated
with the sacred work of Sulabh, who have come from all over India!
I am standing today at a place whose people are associated with
the most sacred work of society. I am now standing and talking from
such an organisation. This programme, attended by 500-600 people,
appears to be small, but we are witnessing and understanding a big
world that Pathakji has created. The work this
organisation is engaged in is huge, and I think
Political movement has a clear goal,
this work should have been accomplished
and it moves ahead to achieve that
long ago. Pathakji started it in 1968, i.e. 20 years
goal. But when someone makes
after Independence,—a movement of ideology
ideas the basis of a movement,
with the objective that toilets should be made
things become tough and one has
available everywhere and to everyone. I am
to face many difficulties, because
a social and political activist, and I am not the
in this case there is nothing to gain,
one to be scared of adversities and paradoxical
but much to give. It is thus difficult
contradictions. I am an activist who believes
to sustain a movement of ideology.
that we must wage a struggle for the good
of the people, for the organization and for the
society. And the movement of the ideology of sanitation that Sulabh
has initiated seems to be reasonably successful.
Movements are of three kinds—religious, political, and ideological.
Religious movement moves ahead taking into account the inner
feelings and sentiments of people. Political movement has a clear
goal, and it moves ahead to achieve that goal. But when someone
makes ideas the basis of a movement, things become tough and one
has to face many difficulties, because in this case there is nothing to
gain, but much to give. It is thus difficult to sustain a movement of
ideology. Therefore, on behalf of my entire party and myself, I would
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like to sincerely congratulate Pathakji for taking up this challenge as
the mantra of his life.
While engaging himself with India's Independence
Movement Mahatma Gandhi, on the suggestion
Gandhiji’s aim was not only the
of Gopal Krishna Gokhale, travelled all over India
attainment of Independence,
in order to understand the country. And this was a
but also to take India far ahead
very good move. Had Gandhiji not undertaken such
by getting rid of the deplorable
an extensive tour of India after his long stay in South
and unacceptable practices one
Africa, he would not have minutely understood the
by one. That is why he stressed
fundamental things and that would have adversely
so much on cleanliness and
affected the goal of achieving Independence.
made it a very vital issue.
From Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Gujarat to
Kamarupa in Assam, Gandhiji had patiently toured
Hon'ble National President of BJP Shri Amit Shah addressing the gathering during his visit to Sulabh Gram
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There is an ongoing campaign for construction of toilets and to make
people use them. The Government of India has taken up this huge project—
the campaign to free the country from open defecation, along with
liberating everyone from the utterly shameful practice of carrying human
excreta as headloads.
each and every part of this vast country. This made him thoroughly understand the problems
of the country, and subsequently, alongside the struggle for freedom. He formulated so
many valuable ideas through his action plan, which could keep India on the ascendency in
the centuries to come. One of them was the concept of cleanliness. Whether it was stress
on simplicity, Indianness, khadi, or cleanliness, these issues were not directly linked to the
Independence, but Gandhiji’s aim was not only the attainment of Independence, but also
to take India far ahead by getting rid of the deplorable and unacceptable practices one by
one. That is why he stressed so much on cleanliness and made it a very vital issue.
Friends, it is rather lamentable that someone had to take initiative for adopting the concept
of sanitation so many years after the Independence. We have to launch an awareness
campaign for toilets, and even after building them, the people have to be persuaded
to use them. The toilet is ready, but if persons who are used to defecate in the open
throughout their life of 50 to 60 years are not ready to use it, one has to start a campaign
to bring about a behavioural change in people, and persuade them to use the toilet, which
is not an easy task.
When Narendrabhai became the Prime Minister, there were many problems, and some
of the problems were very visible. There were problems such as inflation, the border
security, the security of women, the plummeting GDP and growth rate, unemployment,
the challenge of providing electricity to every home, etc. These visible issues became big
election issues. There were also problems, which were not easily perceptible. Narendrabhai
addressed these visible problems effectively. He was the first Prime Minister who talked
about toilets from the ramparts of the Red Fort, forcing us to understand that unless we
addressed this issue, we would not become a developed country. Friends, I would not like
to blame anyone for this, and this is not a political platform. But had the work of sanitation
been made a people’s movement, we would not have to face this problem today. Instead
of the old concept of dependence or overdependence on government for solving the
society’s problems, Narendrabhai devised a new path of taking the people along to solve
problems. This is evident in the campaign of 'Beti Bachao, Bati Padhao' (Save daughter,
educate daughter). This can also be seen in the campaign of Namami Gange (Clean Ganga
Mission). This can also be observed in the construction of toilets and the ongoing campaign
to make people use the toilet. The Government of India has taken up this huge project—the
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How the concept of zero waste, absolute zero waste, can be best applied
to the issue of sanitation has now been made clear to the whole world by
Pathakji. And I think since 1968, the year he started the work, Pathak Saheb
has dedicated his entire life to this cause. Pathak Saheb has got numerous
awards for his work.
campaign to free the country from open defecation, along with liberating everyone from
the utterly shameful practice of carrying human excreta as headloads.
Friends, I am of the view that among the many tasks before our country, we have to give
topmost priority to freeing the people who are still suffering from the curse of manual
scavenging. Narendrabhai has not only spoken about this issue in his speech from the Red
Fort, but has made it an agenda, giving urgency and priority. All the government undertakings
and their funds for social service have a clear signal from the Prime Minister for prioritizing
toilet-building, and a big movement has thus been launched. Plan is also afoot to build 29
crore toilets. But as Pathak Saheb has indicated, there is no point in building toilets unless
they are put to use. So the government is also starting a campaign for proper maintenance
and use of toilets. Almost 2,502 villages have been made open defecation-free. 63 districts
are now free from open defecation. In all, three States have been totally freed from this
practice and the curse of carrying night soil as headloads. So we are making progress in this
direction, although the task is extremely difficult.
It was impossible for me to skip this delayed visit, as it is not easy for anyone to say ‘no’ to
Pathakji, who has made his requests so humbly. Secondly, one has great respect for the
kind of work he has done. After understanding and analyzing everything, taking into account
even the minute details, he has made a complete system, an effective system. Friends, my
mother was a great follower of Gandhiji, especially in the matter of cleanliness. So right from
childhood I had come to know about issues like khadi and cleanliness. And I follow these
things in my own life. But today for the first time I am witnessing in this organisation that
there can be so many dimensions of sanitation.
How the concept of zero waste, absolute zero waste, can be best applied to the issue of
sanitation has now been made clear to the whole world by Pathakji. And I think since 1968,
the year he started the work, Pathak Saheb has dedicated his entire life to this cause. Pathak
Saheb has got numerous awards for his work. The government of India has honoured
him with Padma Bhushan, and he has got many other awards from all over the world. I
belong to a different world, and I think the most valuable one is the award he gained in
the form of gratitude and goodwill of the persons who have been freed from the curse of
manual scavenging. There cannot be any comparison between these two types of awards.
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