60 per cent of people defecating in the open in world live in India: Report

NEW DELHI: About 60 per cent of people in the world practicing open defecation live in India, a joint report published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has estimated, the Rajya Sabha was told today.

In a reply, Minister of State for Drinking Water and Sanitation Upendra Kushwaha said a Joint Monitoring Programme Report published by WHO and UNICEF has estimated that 60 per cent of people in the world who practice open defecation live in India. He said the Indian government, through states and Union Territories, administers Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA) in the country.

It is a comprehensive programme to ensure sanitation facilities in rural areas, including construction of toilets, with the main objective of eradicating the practice of open defecation and ensuring clean environment. The objective of NBA is to achieve sustainable behaviour change with provision of sanitary facilities in entire communities, he said.