New Delhi:
The Dirty Picture actor Vidya Balanwill now feature in a "clean picture" -- ad films to propogatethe government's sanitation programme.
Union Minister Jairam Ramesh, who has successfully ropedin the celebrity as brand ambassador to spread awareness aboutthe drinking water and sanitation campaign, is hopeful thather involvement will make the campaign to end open defecationa "national obsession".
"For an actor, what can be a better thing than doing adirty picture on screen and off screen a clean picture. Ithink this role will work a lot because we are working on anational movement," Balan said after meeting Rural DevelopmentMinister Ramesh at his office.
"This is a clean picture (for Vidya Balan)," Rameshquipped when reporters asked Balan if people will like her ina role to end the menace of open defecation in the country, anissue closely related to women's health and security.
"I think it is a matter great honour for me, becoming thebrand ambassador of sanitation campaign. It needs to become anational obsession. I am ready to (do it) in my capacity. I amconvinced," Balan, who has won the national award for her rolein The Dirty Picture this year, said.
Ramesh said Balan, who will appear in ad campaigns topropagate construction and use of toilets, is actually thefirst brand ambassador of the Ministry.
"She (Vidya Balan) has agreed to give her time for thecampaign for two years. She will be fully involved in theNirmal Bharat Abhiyan--(the re-structured version of the TotalSanitation Campaign)," he said.
"Vidya's involvement in the campaign will help make it anational obsession," Ramesh said.
Despite being one the fastest growing emerging economies,access to adequate sanitation remains abysmally low in Indiacompared to many other countries with similar or lower GDP.
According to UNICEF-WHO Joint Monitoring Programme Report2010, nearly 60 per cent of India's 1.1 billion people stillpractice open defecation.
Union Minister Jairam Ramesh, who has successfully ropedin the celebrity as brand ambassador to spread awareness aboutthe drinking water and sanitation campaign, is hopeful thather involvement will make the campaign to end open defecationa "national obsession".
"For an actor, what can be a better thing than doing adirty picture on screen and off screen a clean picture. Ithink this role will work a lot because we are working on anational movement," Balan said after meeting Rural DevelopmentMinister Ramesh at his office.
"This is a clean picture (for Vidya Balan)," Rameshquipped when reporters asked Balan if people will like her ina role to end the menace of open defecation in the country, anissue closely related to women's health and security.
"I think it is a matter great honour for me, becoming thebrand ambassador of sanitation campaign. It needs to become anational obsession. I am ready to (do it) in my capacity. I amconvinced," Balan, who has won the national award for her rolein The Dirty Picture this year, said.
Ramesh said Balan, who will appear in ad campaigns topropagate construction and use of toilets, is actually thefirst brand ambassador of the Ministry.
"She (Vidya Balan) has agreed to give her time for thecampaign for two years. She will be fully involved in theNirmal Bharat Abhiyan--(the re-structured version of the TotalSanitation Campaign)," he said.
"Vidya's involvement in the campaign will help make it anational obsession," Ramesh said.
Despite being one the fastest growing emerging economies,access to adequate sanitation remains abysmally low in Indiacompared to many other countries with similar or lower GDP.
According to UNICEF-WHO Joint Monitoring Programme Report2010, nearly 60 per cent of India's 1.1 billion people stillpractice open defecation.
