As a gift to Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modiji, H.H. Swami Chidanand Saraswati, President of the Parmarth Niketan (Rishikesh) and Co-Founder/Co-Chair of the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance (GIWA), combined forces with Jack Sim, Founder of the World Toilet Organization, as well as Nitesh Kapoor, Regional Director – RB South Asia, makers of Dettol and Harpic, and announced the creation of the World Toilet College and the GIWA Academy.
The educational institutions, which have been designed to complement and enhance Prime Minister Modi’s acclaimed Swachh Bharat Mission, will be the first in the nation to provide people with the targeted skills and knowledge they need to ensure that the laudable goals of clean and healthy Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) for all can be met.
With campuses to be located at Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh and in Delhi, the World Toilet College will be officially launched on November 19, which is the United Nations’ International World Toilet Day.
“During the nation’s 68th Independence Day address, Hon’ble Narendra Modiji made history and moved hearts through his urgent and patriotic call for toilets for all. No longer should women, who give light to our world, be forced to wait until the darkness of night to heed the call of nature. Instead, we must all come together to do all we can to make India forever clean, green and serene,” said Saraswati.
“Announcing the World Toilet College and GIWA Academy is our gift to our Hon’ble Prime Minister on his beautiful birthday. Through knowledge comes success. The World Toilet College and GIWA Academy will help provide just that,” he added.
The World Toilet College and GIWA Academy will provide an array of classes, including toilet building, behaviour change communications, washroom cleaning, sanitation policy and entrepreneurial training.
“From the Central Government to the proud toilet cleaner, the World Toilet College and GIWA Academy will provide inspiration, skills and opportunities. Learners will be equipped to work, and to work well together, through training them to be professionals in sanitation,” said Jack Sim, Founder of the World Toilet Organization.
Saraswati further said, “As I said at launch of GIWA at UNICEF headquarters, it is time build, maintain and sustain clean and hygienic toilets. In order for us to be clean inside, all that is around us must be clean as well. We as a nation must stand together and be together to do all we can in support of Hon’ble Modiji’s vision for a Swachh Bharat.”
“The World Toilet College and GIWA Academy will serve as a helping wind for our Hon’ble Prime Minister’s mighty fire of change,” he added.
