Reckitt Benckiser, USAID launch Hygiene Index

NEW DELHI: Consumer goods maker Reckitt Benckiser (RB), along with USAID (US Agency for International Development) and EY on Monday announced the launch of a Hygiene Index programme, a monitoring tool for the government to assess the hygiene status of cities and identify areas that need improvement. A statement issued by RB said the index would focus on six sectors including water, waste, health and behaviour change communication. The index will be calculated for over hundred cities based on primary and secondary data collection and stakeholder consultations, the statement said.

Using the tool, the performance of cities will be benchmarked and comparable, along with analysis of best practices adopted, RB said. This will include depicting investments made by various departments, and the companies will host an annual city hygiene award programme.

RB South Asia regional director Nitish Kapoor said: “Since the inception of the Banega Swachh India programme, we have reached out to over 8 million people to spread awareness around cleanliness and hygiene.”

An ‘ideation lab’ is supporting the programme to provide technical data and comprises of members from research and health institutes, multi-lateral donor agencies, and government agencies, the statement added.