UNICEF, BCCI launch sanitation campaign

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, February 15

As a build up to the T-20 World Cup starting next month the ICC Cricket for Good and UNICEF in partnership with the BCCI launched Swachh clinics. A spokesperson of the event said it was a nationwide initiative that aimed at building a social movement for sanitation and toilet use as a part of open defecation-free India.

The ICC T-20 men and women trophies were put on display during the event. The trophies passed through Dharamsala town on an open vehicle.

A specially designed double-decker bus carried children from local NGOs. Rishi Dhawan, who was recently selected in the nation team, was part of the campaign. Dhawan interacted with his fans as the cavalcade made its way to international cricket stadium at Dharamsala.

The event included playing cricket-based games with the children and advocating use of toilets. Dhawan engaged with the children and shared cricketing tips with them. He also discussed with the children the importance of hygiene and sanitation in the specially designed Team Swachh WASH clinic set up inside the HPCA stadium.

Calling the initiative a social movement for sanitation, Caroline Den Dulk, Chief of Communication, UNICEF India said, “The idea of team play is at the core of the Team Swachh initiative and it leverages the vast passion of the sport in the country to advocate toilet use and save lives of children”.

After Dharamsala, the tour will visit each of the venues that will host the ICC WT20 matches. It will travel to Mohali on February 16, New Delhi on February 18, Kolkata February 24, Nagpur February 27, Chennai March 1, Bangalore March 3 and Mumbai on March 6.

Earlier in October 2015, the ICC Cricket For Good and UNICEF launched a five-year global partnership in New York. They decided to engage the broader cricketing community to empower children and adolescents.

In particular, during the many ICC events over the next five years, they will develop and implement various community outreach programmes and initiatives in collaboration with coaches, cricketers and cricketing personalities.

Team Swachh is an integrated nationwide initiative that aims at building a social movement for sanitation and toilet use thereby leading to an open-defecation-free India. This visionary collaboration between the ICC and UNICEF focuses on raising awareness about challenges faced by the most disadvantaged children and focuses on improving sanitation. The ICC WT20 is the launch platform to advocate for children, leveraging the reach and popularity of cricket in India, the organizers said.