Vedanta Resources joins PM Narendra Modi's call for 'Swachh Bharat'

NEW DELHI: Ahead of the launch of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan by Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow, Vedanta Resources today said it is joining the campaign by launching special drives at all its locations and surroundings.

Vedanta Group Chief Anil Agarwal, who last week announced giving away 75 per cent of his family's wealth for the good of the society, has asked his business locations to conduct a special cleanliness drive. It will include Vedanta townships and the villages located near its business locations.

"Vedanta 'Maryadaa' campaign joins Prime Minister call for Swachh Bharat. Special drive at Vedanta premises, colony and within community," Tweeted the 61-year old chairman of the diversified conglomerate.

The company's operations in India are located in Rajasthan, Chattisgarh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Punjab. At most of the locations, Vedanta has developed its townships for employees.

A message has also been sent to all the employees to participate in the cleanliness drive.

PM's Massive Mission to achieve 'Swachh Bharat' by 2019 is a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary.

Under Vedanta's 'Maryadaa' campaign, Vedanta Group Company Hindustan Zinc is constructing 30,000 toilets in rural Rajasthan in collaboration with the state government.

The company is also looking at signing an MoU to add another 10,000 toilets. Over 9,000 toilets have already been constructed in rural villages of Udaipur, Chittorgarh and Bhilwara districts of Rajasthan.

Once the company achieves its target to construct the initial 30,000 toilets, 80 villages in Rajasthan will be covered, a Vedanta spokesperson said.

Vedanta's another company in Tamil Nadu in copper business (Sterlite Copper) has already constructed 183 toilets in the rural area.

According to the reports by UNICEF, only 48 per cent of Indian rural population has good toilet and sanitation facilities.