WHO Chief Praises PM Modi on 10th Anniversary of Swachh Bharat Mission
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the significant achievements of the Swachh Bharat Mission on its 10th anniversary.
He emphasized the mission’s role in advancing sustainable development goals and fostering community engagement for a cleaner, healthier India. Affectionately introducing himself as “Tulsi Bhai,” he stated, “I am honored to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission, which illustrates how strong political commitment can drive transformative change toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).”
Tedros highlighted how the Indian government has made sanitation and hygiene national priorities by mobilizing resources, engaging communities, and igniting a movement to eliminate open defecation. He commended the mission’s focus on equity, local engagement, accountability, and sustainability, noting, “It prioritised basic sanitation in rural and underserved areas, mobilised local leaders, and used data to track progress.”
He further remarked on the health benefits brought by the initiative, stating, “Programs like these significantly improve public health, enhance sanitation, and save lives by reducing the burden of diseases such as diarrhoea and malnutrition.” He also acknowledged the mission’s contribution to long-term well-being and socio-economic development in communities across India.
In addition, the WHO chief commented on the Ayushman Bharat national health protection scheme, saying, “Alongside the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme, this initiative demonstrates your government’s commitment to enhancing the health and well-being of India’s vast population.”
Concluding his remarks, Tedros expressed gratitude to India, stating, “Thank you for your leadership; may your achievement serve as an inspiration for the world.”
Launched in 2014 by Prime Minister Modi, the Swachh Bharat Mission aimed to make India Open Defecation Free (ODF). On the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 155th birth anniversary, PM Modi paid tribute to the nation’s founding father and encouraged participation in cleanliness activities, urging everyone to strengthen the Swachh Bharat Mission. He noted, “Today, on Gandhi Jayanti, I participated in Swachhata-related activities with my young friends. I urge you all to engage in similar activities throughout the day. #10YearsOfSwachhBharat.”
This monumental initiative mobilized nationwide participation, marking it as the largest behavioral change movement in the world. By 2019, the mission celebrated the construction of over 100 million individual household toilets and declared more than 600,000 villages as ODF, honoring Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary.
