As the President of India’s helicopter flew above the Mata Amritanandamayi Math on a rainy Sunday, several women leaders, facilitators and community organizers who have tirelessly championed the cause of sanitation, waited patiently in a ‘high security zone’. Soon, the Honourable President himself would recognize them with commemorative plaques and encouraging words for their collective achievement in actualizing Open Defecation Free status in several villages. Each of these women has her own unique story of success, but also shares in the common societal and economic struggles which Indian women face. Open Defecation Free status is no easy achievement as it takes hard work and campaigning to shift deep rooted cultural behaviors around sanitation and hygiene. To achieve this status the entire village must participate in ensuring that every household has access to a toilet and that there is no visible human waste or sewage around the village. #sanichampion #womenempowerment, #ODFree #WECSDP #GenCen #championsofchange #swachhbharat #MakeIndiaClean President of India United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF)

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