Observance of World Toilet Day Lunchtime Panel Discussion on Open Defecation and the Challenges for Women and Girls November 19, 2014

Statement by Ambassador Asoke K. Mukerji, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations

Ambassador Karen Tan, Permanent Representative of Singapore,

Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson,

Chair of UN Water Mr. Michel Jarraud,

Excellencies,

Distinguished delegates,

I am delighted to participate in todays observance of the World Toilet Day with special focus on Open Defecation and the Challenges for Women and Girls.

Let me at the outset commend the lead taken and outstanding work done by the Mission of Singapore on the issue of toilets and sanitation at the UN.

The World Toilet Day highlights an issue that most of us are shy of addressing, yet one which is central to health and development of our people.

Let me thank in particular the Permanent Representative of Singapore and dear friend Ambassador Karen Tan, for her outstanding work, not just on this issue but also for the creative and positive energy that she has brought to the UN.

Distinguished delegates,

The Father of the Indian Nation Mahatma Gandhi famously quoted that Cleanliness is next only to Godliness.

Mahatma Gandhis devotion to the freedom of India was perhaps matched by only his passion for cleanliness. The Mahatmas visualization of cleanliness was three - pronged - a clean mind, a clean body and clean surroundings.

Despite the commendable progress made under the MDGs, it is a matter of serious concern that the MDG target on sanitation remains the most off-track. Over 2 billion people still live without improved sanitation and over 1 billion practice open defecation.

Access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation facilities are not only central to health and sustainable development, they are central to eradication of poverty as well.

Lack of access to basic sanitation can be both a cause and effect of poverty.

Access to sanitation on the other hand has a significant impact on public health, and in safeguarding income of the poor, ultimately contributing to the national economy.

More importantly though, lack of access to sanitation disproportionately impacts women and girls. It affects not only their socio-economic up-liftment but even their physical safety and security.

We are happy that the proposal of the OWG on SDGs, which we hope will be taken forward in its entirety in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, has included not only a standalone goal on Water and Sanitation, but also a dedicated target for ending open defecation.

We are conscious that India will have a special role to play in the achievement of these targets.

I am happy to mention that the Government of India, under the leadership of our new Prime Minister has launched a new mass movement on sanitation. Called the Clean India Mission, this mission envisages provision of toilets in every school in India within 1 year and focused effort for ending the practice of open defecation.

All stakeholders, including public personalities and the private sector, are being roped in to provide their support to these initiatives.

The objective of this massive exercise is to deliver a Clean India by 2019, which happens to be the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. This, we believe, would be a fitting tribute to the Mahatma.

I thank you Ambassador for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts on this occasion.

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