The Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Shri Parameswaran Iyer, visited Assam to review the progress of Swachh Bharat (Rural). He called on the Chief Minister of Assam, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, and complimented him for prioritising sanitation in the overall State policy agenda. The Chief Minister said that the State is fully geared up to realise the Swachh Bharat dream of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. He emphasised the importance of involving people and children to ensure sustainability of sanitation.
The Secretary also held discussions with the Chief Secretary and senior officials of the Public Health Engineering Department of Assam. He assured complete Central support to the State. The Chief Secretary mentioned that the State would attempt to achieve an ODF (open defecation free) status within a year and also underlined the State's focus on behaviour change, technology of toilets and addressing sanitation issues of plantation labourers. Discussions on focussing on school sanitation also took place. Later in the day, the Secretary joined the Video Conference meeting of the Chief Minister with the DCs and motivated and guided them.
