Over 100 journalists, development agencies and community workers today attended a national media consultation on Swachh Bharat Mission in New Delhi. <br/><br/>Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Parameswaran Iyer, shared details of the nation-wide mass mobilization drive, Swachhata Hi Seva. <br/><br/>He said the campaign is seeing large scale mobilization of people from all walks of life to undertake shramdaan for cleanliness and construction of toilets and cleaning up of public and tourist places. He particularly appreciated the efforts being made by school children, central police services and defence personnel. <br/><br/>The Secretary also shared a snapshot of the progress made by the Swachh Bharat Mission so far, mentioning that five States, nearly 200 districts and around 2.4 lakh villages across the country have already declared themselves as Open Defecation Free. <br/><br/>As many as 1.5 lakh villages have ranked themselves on the Village Swachhta Index based on the solid and liquid waste management.