Government has set up a target to make country open-air defecation free in the next ten years.

Addressing a National Consultation on Scaling up Rural Sanitation in New Delhi today, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said that the ministry will give more focus on sanitation in the 12th Five Year Plan.

He said around 10 million toilets will be made under Nirmal Gram Yojana in the Plan. He said Gram Panchayats have to play major role in this regard.

Mr. Ramesh said the sanitation programme should be taken as a society programme not as a government programme. The minister urged all stakeholders for greater participation in sanitation work in the country.