Vidya Balan appointed the Brand Ambassador of National Sanitation Campaign

Union Rural development Ministry of India on 4 May 2012 roped in National award winning actor Vidya Balan as the brand ambassador for improving the state of sanitation in the country. Rural Develop Minister Jairam Ramesh brought in the leading bollywood star to promote the sanitation campaign started by him. Vidya in her new role will spread awareness about the need of sanitation among the people.

As the latest census data revealed, 53 per cent of Indian households have mobiles yet only 43 per cent have toilets, there are 21 lakh toilets in India which rely on human beings to clean the waste. According to UNICEF-WHO Joint Monitoring Programme Report 2010, nearly 60 per cent of India’s 1.1 billion people still practice open defecation.

Scores of bollywood and sport stars have participated in endorsing the government sponsored social development programmes in the past. While, Amitabh Bacchan and Sachin Tendulkar featured in Polio eradication campaign, Amir Khan spotted in the incredible India campaign launched by the Tourism Ministry of India.