Barring Modi, no other PM has spoken about building toilets: Kovind

Former president Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday said barring Narendra Modi, who spoke about building toilets from the ramparts of the Red Fort, no other prime minister had laid stress on the subject. Kovind was speaking at the National Conference on Sociology of Sanitation where Modi’s message was also read out. The prime minister’s message said: ”Making people aware of the transformational outcomes of sanitation and cleanliness will also help in preparing domain-specific professionals and generate more opportunities for employment and self-employment.” Speaking at the event, Kovind recalled the words of Mahatma Gandhi, who had always prioritised cleanliness. ”Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi used to say cleanliness is next to godliness. Just like when the heart is not pure, one cannot gain god’s blessings, in the same way, if our body is not clean, we cannot gain god’s blessings. ”How can one’s body be clean when one is staying in an unclean place?” he asked. The former president lauded Modi’s nationwide campaign for building toilets and igniting the mind of the masses towards sanitation. ”Gandhiji had this belief that more than independence, cleanliness is necessary. At one point, he was asked that he was involved in the missions for independence and cleanliness, but if he had to prioritise one, which one would he choose? He had said the country will eventually become independent, but the focus on cleanliness should be given from today itself because it is in our hands.