Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has said that India has embarked on a ten-year mission to make the country free of open-defecation. The minister, who held a review meeting with representatives of Northeastern states on Drinking Water and Sanitation in Agartala yesterday, told reporters that the Centre had earmarked 3,500 crore rupees during 2012-13 under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyaan. Mr. Ramesh said, each gram panchayat will be made open-defecation free within the next ten years by pumping 35,000 crore rupees.

Besides, Mr. Ramesh said, his ministry has already initiated a dialogue with the Bill Gates Foundation to address the problem of open-air defecation along railway tracks.