Collective efforts taking nation fast towards ODF status: Modi

Prayagraj, Feb 24 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the nation is fast moving towards becoming open-defecation free (ODF) before October 2 this year and thanked the thousands of sanitation workers and volunteers who ensured a clean Kumbh at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking at a function to felicitate "swacchta karmacharis" and volunteers, the Prime Minister said that they all stand out as great inspirations for the country.

Referring to an event before where he washed the feet of five sanitation workers, including three men and two women, Modi said this would remain etched in his memory for the rest of his life.

He also thanked all those who were not only physically contributing to the cause of Swacch Bharat and projects like Namami Gange but also contributing financially to it.

"I have also made a small contribution towards Namami Gange," the Prime Minister said, adding that the amount of Rs 1.30 crore he got as part of the Seoul Peace Prize recently has been donated to the Namami Gange mission.

"All the 'Swacchagrahis' at Kumbh have emerged come as great inspirations," he said while pointing out how the clean and flowing Ganga is an outcome of the positive efforts of the government.

Under these efforts also comes the closure of 32 drains that brought in affluents and sewage to the Ganga, the Prime Minister said. Now, he said, the water is coming to the rivers after being treated by the Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs).

At a place, where more than 20 crore people visited in the past few weeks, making such mammoth arrangements is not an easy task. "Determination and collective work by all of you has resulted in the Kumbh becoming a talking point across the world," Modi pointed out.