10 Landmark Swachh Initiatives Launched By Aquakraft Projects Pvt Ltd during Swachhata hi Sewa
Aquakraft Projects Pvt Ltd today announced the launch of the INTERNATIONAL SWACHH FEDERATION (ISF) as a joint initiative of its unquie socio economic developmental model SWACHHAGRAHA and United Nations Global Compact Network India (UNGC). The vision & mission of ISC is based on the principles of SWACHHAGRAHA where SWACHH is Sanitation & Water for Community Health & Hygiene and AGRAHA is an invitation to all stakeholders across Government, Elected Representatives, Corporates, Non Profits, NGOs, Communities, Students, Volunteers, Bilateral/Multilateral Aid Agencies, Advocacy firms et al, to come together and build a CLEAN GREEN HEALTHY NEW & PROGRESSIVE WORLD. ISF is a multi stakeholder platform that enables discussions, innovations, sharing of ideas, defining best practices & formulation of policies in each of the elements of SWACHH with an objective to achieve UN SDG 6. ISF is a Self Regulatory Initiative and will focus on creating SOP’s leading to best practices in each of the elements of SWACHH.
Speaking at the launch Mr. Kamal Singh, Executive Director, UN Global Compact Network said, “ This is the first time that an initiative like this has been created to enable multi stakeholder co-operation & discussion to build standard operating frameworks for implementation of UN SDG 6. We are very pleased and happy to partner with Aquakraft’s SWACHHAGRAHA and commend the vision of “SwachhShree” Dr. Subramanya Kusnur, the Architect of SWACHHAGRAHA. What impressed us is that he began his mission of SWACHH much earlier in 2008, travelled over 800 villages across the country, armed with a green technology for treating both Drinking Water, Sanitation & Sewage and did not budge from his GREEN philosophy till he convinced all the stakeholders. This unique quality coupled with UNGC’s network and penetration will redefine the way SDG6 is addressed across the world with SWACHH being the augmented version of WASH. Another notable thing about Aquakraft’s SWACHHAGRAHA is that it today offers validated CSR opportunities for corporates in the area of SWACHH to the tune of over Rs. 500 crores. ”
“We are indeed very pleased & proud to have the support of UN Global Compact Network India for which we wish to express our deep gratitude to Shri Kamal Singh for his progressive approach & support. The genesis of ISF has germinated through our decade long crusade against the lack of water, contamination of water, open defecation, malnutrition & dumping of waste. Our philosophy being GREEN, it took us a long time to find green initiatives on the first hand and convincing the stakeholders vis a vis conventional practices on the other hand. By virtue of this we generated a lot of experience dealing with multiple stakeholders who eventually subscribed to our philosophy of going green leading to sustainability. As a part of SWACHHATA HI SEWA, we have launched 5 landmark initiatives today and wish to thank all our partners and most importantly our dignitaries and audience who have come in large numbers to create a Clean Green Healthy & New India” Said “SwachhShree” Dr. Subramanya Kusnur, Architect of SWACHHAGRAHA & Chairman of Aquakraft Group
Shri “RadhaKrishna Das” Dr. Ravindra Khatanahar, Administrative Advisor of the award winning mid day meal scheme program ANNAMRITA, launched INTERNATIONAL SWACHH FEDERATION as the Chief Guest. While delivering his address he said“ I am very happy to be here for the launch of the INTERNATIONAL SWACHH FEDERATION a joint initiative of UN GLOBAL COMPACT NETWORK & Aquakraft. SWACHH is no longer the prerogative of Governments or Municipalities and has to be practiced across the strata of the society. A multistakeholder platform like ISF is the need of the hour. Drinking Water & Sanitation have a direct impact on Public Health and I am very happy to note that UNGC has adopted SWACHH instead of WASH as a SDG 6 impact initiative. I wish to congratulate Shri Kamal Singh for this vision of his and am sure that SWACHH will now be universally recognised as an augmented version of WASH to achieve SDG6 by all countries and stakeholders across the globe.I am happy to announce the 1st advocacy of ISF of having a vocational course for Housing Society Managers and having SWACHH Officers in every Corporate / Instituion reporting and self complying on the defined SOPs which will be a great step in making our places of work & communities clean and more responsible towards SWACHH.”
One of the key attractions of the event was the launch of SANITEASE Bio Degradable Sanitary Pads & India’s 1st Green National Menstrual Hygiene Program by Bollywood Actor, Celebrity & winner of the MISS INDIA INTERNATIONAL 2007, Ms ESHA GUPTA. Speaking on the occasion she said "I congratulate Dr Subramanya Kusnur for having created the INTERNATIONAL SWACHH FEDERATION in association with the UN GLOBAL COMPACT NETWORK INDIA. It is heartening to know that SWACHH stands for Sanitation & Water for Community Health & Hygiene and the interventions are totally GREEN. In this Hygiene for girl child is something which is very dear to my heart. I am glad to be here today at the launch of Sanitease biodegradable sanitary pads. Also kicked to see that the team behind this has been able to achieve this at very reasonable prices and still manage to provide a green alternative at a price lesser than the bigger players in the market. For the coming generations to survive and thrive, it's critical that we look at green alternatives. I believe Sanitease will absolutely change the way we look at women's sanitation . I wish Dr Subramanya and his team all the best and hope they achieve 100% sanitation for all women - young and old, urban and rural, for one and all.
The Launch saw a huge participation from all stakeholders including corporates, Government, Academics and most importantly YOUTH.
