Got a toilet in house after becoming MLA: Union minister Kataria

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 19

Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Rattan Lal Kataria on Thursday said his house got a toilet two years after 1987 when he became MLA and minister in Haryana.

Kataria, who is a native of Ladwa in Kurukshetra district, stated this while addressing a virtual function to mark “World Toilet Day”, which was presided over by Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

His reference was to his parental house in Ladwa. Kataria was elected MLA from Radaur in Yamunanagar district in 1987.

The World Toilet Day function was organised by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation of the Jal Shakti Ministry.

Kataria referred to his household not having a toilet in the context of the changed situation now when the country has become ODF (open-defecation free) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government.

“I will tell you about my personal experience. I became MLA and Minister in Haryana in 1987. My house had first toilet two years after that,” Kataria said, while showering accolades on Modi’s political leadership in making “Swachhta Abhiyan” (cleanliness drive) a by-word, and a people’s movement.

Modi had given a call for ODF campaign from the ramparts of the Red Fort in 2014 in his Independence Day speech.

On October 2, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi last year, Modi announced that country had achieved ODF status.

“We will not stop here. The country will achieve the target of ODF Plus as visualised by the Prime Minister,” Kataria said.

The ODF Plus include treatment of all kinds of solid and liquid waste, and their recycling for productive purposes, including bio-gas and fertiliser. 

He said inspired by the call of Modi, the people are hooked to the idea of “total cleanliness”.

Kataria said about 60 crore toilets constructed under “Swachh Bharat Mission” must be sustained.

He underlined that the Centre’s twin drives of cleanliness, and piped water connection to every rural household under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) are instrumental for overall progress, security and a sense of dignity to an individual.