New Delhi: To observe World Toilet Day Wednesday, Sulabh International put on display a 700-kg cake in the shape of toilet pot at the Constitution Club here, to raise awareness about sanitation among the masses.
A special bus, named "Sulabh Swachhata Rath", equipped with audio-visual gadget that will tour around the country for the next five years to raise awareness on sanitation, was also flagged off at the event by Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay.
Sulabh International, a non-governmental organisation campaigning against open defecation, has also organised a three-day festival, which was launched yesterday at the Central Park here.
A large number of children belonging to Sulabh School Sanitation Clubs, widows from Vrindavan and manual scavengers took part in the celebrations that also had student delegates from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.
Spelling out the need for a trained workforce which will work on sanitation measures, Sulabh International founder Bindeshwar Pathak said that around 50,000 youths could turn around the dismal state of sanitation.
"Implementing the Sulabh model requires trained manpower of around 50,000 youths who will work as motivators and raise awareness by visiting rural households," he said.
"Apart from skilled labour we also need around 2 lakh masons in order to construct the scientific toilets in about a little more than 6 lakh villages in the country," he added.
While praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's approach on sanitation, Pathak expressed displeasure over what he termed lackadaisical attitude of government officials on measures on sanitation.
"Government officials still talk about implementing the tried and tested trickle down approach instead of adopting our low cost and efficient model," he said.
The NGO also handed over sanitary napkin dispensers and waste treatment machines to nine Delhi schools on the occasion.
