Women sarpanches conferred with Swachh

Shakti-2019 awards by Prime Minister

The third edition of the Swachh Shakti-2019 was held in Kurukshetra, Haryana. The national convention to highlight the leadership role played by rural women in Swachh Bharat Mission was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 12, 2019. He also addressed and distributed the Swachh Shakti-2019 awards. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Modi said, "We all have heard about many prestigious beauty contests, but have we ever heard about the 'Toilet' contest? In rural India, recently a unique competition was initiated - Swachh Sundar Shauchalaya contest, where people decorated their toilets with paintings, local art and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan messages and logo. With such progress, I believe, there will be a time in India, when one of the villages will become a successful tourist spot, where people will come to visit the colourful toilets,"

The event was organised by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in association with the Govt. of Haryana. Women Sarpanches and Panches from all over the country participated in the event, aimed at empowering the women. Best practices from grass root level in the rural areas for Swachh Bharat were shared by them. The event showcased the achievements of Swachh Bharat and the recently conducted Swachh Sunder Shauchalay, (neat and clean toilet) - a unique and first of its kind in the world campaign.  The movement is a part of ongoing activities under the aegis of the Swachh Bharat Mission, launched on October 2nd, 2014 aimed at achieving a Clean and Open Defecation Free (ODF) India by 2nd October, 2019. Mr. Modi launched the Swachh Shakti program first in 2017 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. 6000 women sarpanches from across the country had assembled in Gujarat on the occasion of International Women's Day under the banner of Swachh Shakti 2017. The second Swachh Shakti event, Swachh Shakti-2018 was held at Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. 8000 women sarpanches, 3000 women Swachha-grahis and women champions from other walks of life from across the country were recognized for their outstanding contribution towards making a Swachh Bharat during the event. Swachh Shakti is an example of how at the grass root level, rural women champions are acting as a change agent to mobilize the community and lead from the front women taking initiatives for a Swachh Bharat. The movement is a part of ongoing activities under the aegis of the Swachh Bharat Mission, launched on October 2nd, 2014, by the Prime aimed at achieving a Clean and Open Defecation Free (ODF) India by 2nd October, 2019.