NDTV & Dettol have been lending support to the Government of India's Swachh Bharat Abhiyan that was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014. After leading a very successful Swachhta (Cleanliness) Initiative for over five years, this year, we move the conversation from Swachh to Swasth (Health). Helmed by NDTV's Dr Prannoy Roy and campaign ambassador Amitabh Bachchan, the campaign will talk about how a clean India leads to a healthy India as health can only flourish when the environment around one is clean.
Health statistics show, 1 in 40 babies die in childbirth, 1 in 25 children die before the age 5. Most of these deaths are due to lack of hygiene, lack of access to clean water, pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria. This year as we embark on a new phase of our campaign to make the country cleaner and healthier, we will focus on the well-being of the mothers and children. If hygiene and nutrition is ensured for all, only then can a strong foundation can be laid for the future health of the society.
#BanegaSwasthIndia12-Hour ![](https://drop.ndtv.com/ndtv/apps/pages/special/bsi/v3/images/swasth-logo.png)
That's a wrap on the launch event of Banega Swasth India. "We will be back with the all day telethon on October 2,' signs off Amitabh Bachchan.
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637018205937149401.jpg)
Amitabh Bachchan announces a donation of 100 Swasth Boxes for the Banega Swasth India cause.
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637018202307235842.jpg)
Be part of the Banega Swasth India movement by donating for the 'Swasth Box'. This health kit will be distributed among new mothers in rural India.
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637018200821512359.jpg)
Banega Swasth India unveils the 'Swasth Box' which is a kit that has been put together by NGO Smile Foundation for new mothers keeping their health requirements in mind for the crucial 45 days after delivering a baby.
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637018199702851944.png)
A young audience member raps a song he composed about Swachhta (cleanliness) and swasth (health).
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637018194091921872.jpg)
Indu Bhushan, CEO of Ayushman Bharat:
- About 70 per cent of the health services in the country are being provided by the private services which are not accessible to economically poor people.
- More private health services lead to 'Out of the pocket' spend which leads to delay in treatment for poor people as there is affordability ssue and a lot of the times they discontinue the treatment.
- Ayushman Bharat aims at providing access to health services to poor people by using both public and private sector hospitals.
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637018192687629508.jpg)
Indu Bhushan CEO of Ayushman Bharat joins the discussion at Banega Swasth India launch.
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637018187297124414.jpg)
Anganwadi people are the actual people who take the message across the people. Maximum amount of encouragement should be given to them: Amitabh Bachchan
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637018182538254468.jpg)
We need to strengthen the practice of breastfeeding because the rates of breastfeeding in India needs improvement: Ravi Bhatnagar, Reckitt Benckiser
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637018183198437394.png)
Param Iyer at Banega Swasth India launch:
'Swachh' to 'swasth' is complimentary and the best medicine to prevent stunting is actually the use of toilets.
WHO study finds that more than 3 lakh lives would be saved of children in the age below 5 by the end of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) campaign.
Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation joins the Banega Swasth India launch campaign.
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637018171047454209.jpg)
Highlights of what Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Health Minister said at Banega Swasth India launch:
- There has been a change in the attitude of the people given whatever the government has been able to do by putting up more than 10 crore toilets in the country.
- 6 lakh villages have become Open Defecation Free (ODF); soon we will announce that the country has become ODF
- India's sanitation cover has increased from 35 per cent in 2014 to 98 per cent in the whole country. I, as the health minister, am the happiest man because of this.
- Whatever is being done in the Swachh Bharat has immense impact on health. I think we have seen a significant improvement in health indicators in the country.
- This country can work wonders if we provide successful implementation of health for all goals as specified by WHO.
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637018165165711923.jpg)
I keep saying that you should always get yourself tested because I for 8 years did not know I had Tuberculosis. And now that I am under regular check up I have manged to survive 20 years with just 25% of my liver in functional state: Amitabh Bachchan while urging Dr Harsh Vardhan to spread awareness about regular check ups to facilitate early diagnosis.
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637018163567514163.jpg)
Union Health Minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan joins the discussion on Banega Swasth India launch event.
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637018160156309509.jpg)
Amitabh Kant at the launch of Banega Swasth India campaign:
- 1,50,000 primary health care centres in the country have been opened
- We have a very ambitious health insurance scheme.
- The challenge is about taking this issue of health and nutrition and making it a 'jan andolan' (people's movement). Health actually involves 40% sanitation, 40% health and 20% food.
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637018159526546279.jpg)
Historically, Kerela, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have done well but the way the Health Index of NITI Aayog is structured we see that lately even Rajasthan, Haryana, and Jharkhand have done well too.
Sanitation is number one priority. India cannot be a superpower without improving social indicators: Amitabh Kant, NITI Aayog
India cannot grow without focussing and improving on health and sanitation: Amitabh Kant of NITI Aayog
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637018153353399989.jpg)
Amitabh Kant of NITI Aayog joins Banega Swasth India launch event and starts with talking about Health Index report.
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637018152346434050.jpg)
Women can be saved by changing the cooking pattern. Over one million women die due to smoke from cooking. No food can be tasty unless the basic tenets of hygiene is maintained: Sanjeev Kapoor, Celebrity Chef and Nutritionist
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637018149161426197.jpg)
Gaurav Jain, Senior Vice President, Africa, Middle East and South Asia (AMESA), RB Health India, Dr Hemalatha, ICMR, Sanjeev Kapoor, Celebrity Chef and Nutritionist, Manisha Mhaiskar, Principal Secretary (Urban Development), Maharashtra, Shweta Shalini, Executive Director Maharashtra Village Transformation and Advisor to Chief Minister Maharashtra, Neeraj Jain, Country Head, PATH, come together for a panel discussion on child health
Rapper Naezy perform the Banega Swasth India anthem, says, "I am concerned for the health of the people. Through my hip hop music, I can send a message. The youngsters will listen to these lyrics and make a difference."
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637018138812374018.jpg)
A quick recap to Banega Swachh India campaign: The fifth year called for attention and efforts to beat air pollution.
A quick recap to Banega Swachh India campaign: In the fourth year, the concept of 'clean, compost and segregate' was promoted.
A quick recap to Banega Swachh India campaign: In the third year, #Mere10Guz initiative promoted the concept of how if each individual ensured that 10 yards of their surroundings is clean then India could become clean.
A quick recap to Banega Swachh India campaign: Swachhata Express was followed by the introduction of Swachhta ki Pathshala where school students were taught about hygiene.
A quick recap to Banega Swachh India campaign: In the first leg of the campaign in 2014, a 'Swachhata Express' was launched to create awareness about the importance of sanitation and covered 350 villages.
In five years of Banega Swachh India campaign a lot has been achieved: Amitabh Bachchan
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637018131547242868.jpg)
Amitabh Bachchan sets the agenda for the Swachh to Swasth initiative.
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637018132004628656.jpg)
Amitabh Bachchan launches Banega Swasth India campaign.
Naezy has sung the Banega Swasth India campaign anthem which he will be performing shortly on stage.
Rapper Naezy of 'Gully Boy' fame arrives for the launch of Banega Swasth India.
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637018125433531953.jpg)
Audience is seated and ready for the launch of NDTV Dettol 'Banega Swasth India' campaign with Amitabh Bachchan and Prannoy Roy, which will begin shortly
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637018122384398331.jpg)
.
With just minutes to go, the production control room gears up for the countdown to the launch of NDTV Dettol 'Banega Swasth India' campaign with Amitabh Bachchan and Prannoy Roy.
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637018116164452561.jpg)
Gear up for the launch of the NDTV Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign with Amitabh Bachchan
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637017128705504193.png)
'Only a clean India can be a healthy India as Swachh = Swasth,' says Prannoy Roy
One in 25 children die before the age of 5. It is time to focus on the health of mother and child.
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637017123399706026.png)
Despite the improvement, 1 in 40 babies die at child birth.
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637017122226914315.png)
India has also seen an improvement in survival rate among children between the first month and a year after birth, referred to as post-neonatal.
![](https://edata.ndtv.com/feeds/liveblog/2085138/637017120123751402.png)
India has seen a fall in neonatal deaths, which refers to deaths within the first month after birth of a child.
After leading a very successful Swachhta (Cleanliness) Initiative for five years, this year we move the conversation from Swachh to Swasth (Health).