Mangaluru, Nov 03, 2017: A total of 5.21 crore toilets have been constructed for households across the state ever since the Swachha Bharath Scheme was launched. India would be declared open defecation free in 2019, said Union Minister for Sanitation and Drinking Water Ramesh Jigajinagi.
He was speaking after inaugurating the 4th phase of the Swachhata Abhiyan of Ramakrishna Mission as well as 1000 Shramadan programmes in 100 villages of the district, on November 3, Friday.
In India, a total of 2.67 lakh villages, 1.17 lakh gram panchayats, 225 districts and 2,048 taluks have been declared open-defection free. In Karnataka 70.62 per cent people have toilets at their homes, the minister said.
Ramakrishna Mission Secretary Swami Jithakamanandaji presided over the function. Nitte University Chancellor N Vinay Hegde, MRPL Managing Director H Kumar, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, ZP Chief Meenakshi Shantigodu, Z P CEO M R Ravi and others were present.