Responding to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to corporates to build separate toilets for women, Vedanta Group company Hindustan Zinc today announced that it will construct another set of 10,000 toilets in Rajasthan,
Hindustan Zinc (HZL), one of the largest global producers of zinc, lead and silver, has already constructed 9,000 toilets out of its planned 30,000 in Rajasthan villages in collaboration with the state government.
“We are looking forward to construct 10,000 toilets shortly in addition to 30,000 which we are constructing in collaboration with the Rajasthan government. Of the 30,000 toilets which we are constructing, we have completed 9,000 already while the rest will be completed in two years,” said, Head of Corporate communications, Pavan Kaushik.
Earlier, Sunil Mittal-led Bharti Enterprises’ development arm Bharti Foundation had also announced investment of up to Rs 100 crore in constructing toilets in Ludhiana over the next three years. Tata Consultancy Services ( TCS) had pledged Rs 100 crore toward financing hygienic sanitation facilities for girl students across 10,000 schools.
Kaushik said HZL’s initiative will make 80 rural and tribal Rajasthan villages in Bhilwara, Chittorgarh and Udaipur districts free from open defecation.
Kaushik said the 30,000 toilets were being constructed under the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan and cost of construction of each toilet is Rs 8,500 of which Rs 4,600 per toilet is being paid by government, Rs 3,000 by HZL and Rs 900 by the beneficiary.
London-listed Vedanta at present holds 64.92 percent stake in HZL, which has launched campaign “Maryada” to inform people about good sanitation habits and simultaneously construct rural household toilets in Rajasthan.
Stressing on “dignity of women”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15 asked Parliamentarians and the corporate sector to help build separate toilets for girls in schools across the country by next year.
“We are in the 21st century. Have we ever been pained by the fact that even today our mothers and sisters have to defecate in open. Dignity of women…isn’t this is a responsibility of everyone? “Women and sister wait for dusk… Can’t we make provisions for a toilet for the dignity of our mothers and sisters,” he had said.