New Delhi: Union Ministers Prakash Javadekar and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday unveiled a giant ladoo (Indian sweet) weighing 568kg at an event in New Delhi to celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 68th birthday.
The ladoo was cut by Bindeshwar Pathak, the founder of Sulabh International social service organisation, which has been celebrating September 17 as "Swachhta Diwas" since 2015.
The organisation also held a photography exhibition showcasing Modi’s works at Constitution Club. Two coffee table books on his life were also launched at the event.
"This week -- till September 25 -- will be celebrated as 'Seva Week'. We are soon coming up with a scheme to pay hospital expenses of the poor and to create health awareness in a way that people don't fall ill," Human Resource Development Minister Javadekar the state of sanitation in 5the country has been improving "gradually". "Earlier, there was only 30 per cent toilet coverage in the country. After the Prime Minister took [initiative], it went up to 90 per cent."
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He added: "450 lakh [45 million] villages [became] open defecation free, 20 states [became] open defecation free... When we celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary (October 2) next year, India will have 100 per cent toilet coverage. There will be cleanliness and health."
Naqvi tweeted that the Prime Minister "has been working with commitment to [a] Clean India, Healthy India".
"Swachh Bharat Abhiyan #SwachhtaHiSeva has today become an effective mission with the participation and passion of common people of the country," he said.
