Ahimsa has power to unite humanity: Modi

New Delhi: Mahatma Gandhi’s principle of ‘ahimsa’ has the power to unite humanity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said.

“In a world where terrorism, radicalisation, extremism and mindless hate are dividing nations as well as societies, his clarion calls of peace and ahimsa have the power to unite humanity,” Modi said in a blog written for select dailies.

Ahimsa is the principle of not causing harm to other living things.

He wrote the blog on the occasion of the 149th birth anniversary of Gandhi, which also marks the beginning of the year-long celebrations of his 150th birth anniversary.

“He remains a shining beacon of hope for millions of people across the world who seek a life of equality, dignity, inclusion and empowerment,” Modi wrote.

President Ram Nath Kovind and Modi on Tuesday paid tributes to Gandhi at Rajghat, urging people to rededicate themselves to the values espoused by the leader and fulfil his dreams.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi also paid homage to the father of the nation at his memorial.

Meanwhile, Modi said that the Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Mission) has turned into the world’s biggest mass movement on sanitation.

“Political leadership, public funding, partnerships and people’s participation are the four mantras for making the world cleaner,” he said in his address at the closing session of the four-day Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention (MGSIC) in the presence of sanitation ministers and other leaders in WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) from around the world, besides UN Secretary General Antonio Gutteres.

Referring to Gandhi’s remarks that he would give priority to cleanliness over independence, Modi said that he derived inspiration from the leader and followed his guidelines while initiating the movement.

“Today, I am proud that our nation of 125 crore [1.25 billion] people is following in the footsteps of Gandhi ji, and have turned Swacch Bharat Mission as the world’s biggest mass movement,” he said.

Asserting that the Swachh Bharat Mission has brought a behavioural change to people, he said that rural sanitation has gone up to 94 per cent as against 38 per cent in 2014.

“Five lakh [500,000] villages and 25 states have become Open Defecation Free,” he said.

Emphasising the importance Gandhi placed on cleanliness, Modi said that an unclean environment leads to a situation where one starts accepting circumstances.

“On the contrary, if one cleans up dirt in the surroundings, he gets energised and then does not resign himself to existing adverse circumstances,” Modi said.

Referring to 17 Sustainable Development Goals set up by United Nations, the Prime Minister assured Guterres that India would play an important role in achieving the goals.

“We are on track to achieve it before the set target. Along with sanitation our government is also focussing on nutrition,” Modi said.

Addressing the gathering, Guterres congratulated Modi for giving priority to sanitation.

“Mahatma Gandhi was ahead of his time when it came to safe, hygienic sanitation — as he was in so many areas. He demanded the right of sanitation for everyone. And he demanded respect for that right from everyone. And the Clean India Mission builds on his genius and lifelong quest for human dignity,” Guterres said.

The UN chief said that poor sanitation and open defecation have a disproportionate impact on women and girls.

“They may face an increased risk of harassment and abuse, restrictions on their personal freedom of movement and increased health risks because of lack of access to sanitation facilities and to menstruation materials. Girls cannot wait for safe, clean, private toilets in their schools. And women should not have to wait for sanitation in public spaces and workplaces,” he said.

He said, to reach the Sustainable Development Goals, there is an urgent need to tackle the issue of sanitation as is being done in India.

“The 2030 Agenda, agreed by all countries, is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity and sanitation plays a part in all three. No country can be content with less than universal sanitation; it is fundamental to sustainable development and India’s example is very much welcome at the present moment,” he said.

Guterres said eliminating open defecation must be central to efforts to improve sanitation.

“I commend India for making the elimination of open defecation a priority at the highest level and throughout government, and I congratulate all governments that have agreed plans and allocated budgets to eliminate open defecation,” he said.

Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri said that Swachh Bharat Mission has helped the government, the policymakers at all levels and also to work towards one common goal.

“Never before have so many ministries and departments come together under a single umbrella that of Swachhata, of cleanliness. The manner in which this mission has been implemented is a ‘perfect model of convergence’ of aims and policies,” he said.