Ensure safe drinking water to all by 2024: Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan
Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan addressing the conclave
Vijayawada: Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan urged State to ensure safe and adequate drinking water to all households by 2024.
He was addressing the 7th WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Conclave organised by UNICEF and National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) through virtual mode from Raj Bhavan on Wednesday.
Governor Harichandan was the chief guest at the inaugural session of the three-day conclave being held with the theme of 'Hygiene Matters' in which key stakeholders of water, sanitation and hygiene from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana participated on a single platform to discuss key issues with particular focus on hygiene.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said India has achieved significant strides in water, sanitation and hygiene sector in terms of achieving open defecation-free status, basic drinking water services through piped water supply (PWS) and is progressing towards achieving the sustainable development goal No 6 to provide 'clean water and sanitation'.
The Governor said the supply of adequate, accessible, equitable and quality water supply and better sanitation facilities in household, community and institutions-level with community managed water supply and sanitation system is the soul of Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission programmes.
The Governor further said that the State-level programme initiatives such as 'Manam Mana Parisubrtha' in Andhra Pradesh, 'Swacchotsava Nityotsava' in Karnataka and 'Palle Pragathi' in Telangana have been contributing in a long way towards achieving WASH resilience and healthy society.
Governor Harichandan said the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana have been working extremely hard to overcome the challenges posed by the Covid-19 by taking up various initiatives by controlling spread of the virus and simultaneously focusing on development activities in line with guidelines issued by the Government of India. Observing proper hygiene for health has never been felt so important globally as it is now and people have now realiSed that hygiene is the first line of defence against the Covid-19 pandemic, he said.
The Governor complimented all the stakeholders of the three States, involved in sustaining the open defecation-free status and achieving the milestones of water and sanitation for all and appreciated their efforts to become 100 per cent WASH compliant.
Nicolas Osbert, chief of WASH, UNICEF, India, Alka Upadhyaya, Director General, NIRDPR, Meital Rusdia, chief of UNICEF, Hyderabad field office, Mukesh Kumar Meena, secretary to Governor, senior officials of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana, representatives of development partners, elected members of PRIs, community leaders, also attended the conclave through virtual mode.