Bharti Foundation inks pact with Punjab for building toilets

Bharti Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Bharti Enterprises, signed a pact with the Punjab government to jointly build over 50,000 toilets for rural households in Amritsar district.

Bharti Foundation will be collaborating with the Punjab government under the 'Satya Bharti Abhiyan', Vijay Chadda, CEO, Bharti Foundation, said here.

Under the pact, Bharti Foundation will join hands with the Punjab government and provide financial assistance for the construction of 20,000 toilets in four blocks Chogawan, Majitha, Ajnala and Harsha Chhina with an investment of up to Rs 30 crore, he said.

The remaining 30,000 plus toilets will be provided by the Punjab government in five blocks Attari, Jandiala, Rayya, Tarsika and Verka, he said.

On completion, the joint initiative will impact over 2.5 lakh individuals.

The MoU was signed by Chadda and Ashwani Kumar, IAS, Head of Department of Water Supply and Sanitation, Punjab government.

The initiative will be supported by grants from two group companies –- Bharti Airtel Limited and Bharti Infratel Limited, Chadda said.

'Satya Bharti Abhiyan' is a private sector-supported intervention designed to contribute to Government of India’s 'Swachh Bharat Mission'.

It was launched by Bharti Foundation in August 2014 as a response to the call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging corporates to join the government’s efforts in sanitation and health under the 'Swachh Bharat Mission'.