One lakh toilets to be built in schools, colleges, says Piyush Goyal

New Delhi: Coal and Power minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said that one lakh toilets would be constructed in schools and colleges by the PSUs under his ministries within a year.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accorded highest priority to cleanliness. He gave a message for construction of toilets from the Red Fort...The whole energy family will contribute towards this work," the Minister said. He was addressing the officers and staff of ministries of Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and PSUs on Swachh Bharat Divas through webcast from Mumbai.

"One lakh toilets in schools and colleges by different PSUs will be constructed within a year," the Minister said. While administering cleanliness pledge to the employees, Goyal urged them to remain committed towards cleanliness and devote time for that.

He said that every step taken towards cleanliness will help the country remain clean which will lead to economic prosperity. Goyal said that the energy family will play an important role in realising the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make India neat and clean.

He expressed the hope that every citizen will get inspired by the Prime Minister's initiative for the cleanliness drive on Thursday and will contribute to this noble cause.

Pointing out that there are enormous economic benefits of making the country clean, he said it will increase tourism, employment opportunities and income . Goyal said that all employees should resolve to work together to project the image of a clean India to the world.

"Today is Mahatma Gandhi's Birth Anniversary. He was of the view that sanitation is more important than political freedom. We all are going to take cleanliness pledge. I consider it to be a very important day. It is first step and in the coming days it will play an important role in bringing cleanliness in the country," the Minister said.

In the national capital, the Secretaries of Ministries of Power, Coal & New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) administered the cleanliness pledge in their respective offices. At Sharam Shakti Bhawan, PK Sinha, Secretary Power and SK Srivastava, Secretary Coal, and Upendra Tripathy, Secretary (MNRE) at CGO Complex led the cleaning drive.

Senior officers and staff members in large numbers participated in the drive. Similarly, in the PSUs under Ministries of Power, Coal & New & Renewable Energy, respective Chairman and Managing Directors (CMDs) and unit heads throughout the country administered cleanliness pledge to the officers and staff members.

The employees in the coal ministry pledged they will devote 100 hours every year to voluntary work for cleanliness and will also encourage others to take the pledge.

Meanwhile, secretaries in the department of Commerce, Industry, Textiles and Heavy Industries also observed the cleanliness drive. Heavy Industries Secretary Rajan Katoch administered the pledge for 'Swachh Bharat' campaign to the officials and employees of the Udyog Bhavan.