Nine prominent leaders from the major faiths in India came together today to announce the launch of a globally unprecedented initiative to save millions of Indian children, the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance (GIWA India).
UNICEF India is partnering with GIWA for technical expertise and advice. The leaders resolved to take the message of WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) to their congregations and followers, embracing the spirit of Swachh Bharat campaign so that homes and communities across India can have improved access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene.
Co-chair of global GIWA, HH Swami Chidanand Saraswati, Paramarth Niketan, Rishikesh, Archbishop of Delhi, HE Archbishop Anil Joseph Thomas Couto, Chief Jathedar of Sri Akal Takhat, Sant Giani Gurbachan Singh, National President, Global Imam Council Maulana Luqman Tarapuri-a-Deobandi Alim, Representative of HH the Dalai Lama, Mr. Tempa Tsering, Nobel Laureate, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Director General of TERI, Dr R. K. Pachauri, Jain spiritual leaders Acharya Dr.
Lokesh Muni and Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Secretary-General of global GIWA and President of Divine Shakti Foundation joined hands today and committed themselves to be part of GIWA and take up the message of WASH and turn it into a revolution in order to save millions of children and families from death, diseases and stunting.
Also present were UNICEF India representatives, Suzanne Joan Coates, Chief of WASH , and Caroline den Dulk, Chief of Advocacy and Communication.
GIWA is the world's first initiative to engage leaders of many faiths to create a world where everyone has access to improved sanitation, safe drinking water and proper hygiene. GIWA was launched globally on 25 September, 2013 at UNICEF headquarters during the United Nations General Assembly week, sponsored by the Governments of the Netherlands and USAID. GIWA's mission is to save lives by initiating and accelerating WASH projects worldwide, beginning with India. Religious communities have a proven track record of success in promoting WASH globally.
The faith leaders expressed deep anguish at the fact that nearly 595 million Indians still defecate in the open, the largest percentage of a population[S1] in the world. This results in high mortality, morbidity and environmental degradation. The worst affected by poor sanitation, hygiene and open defecation are the children and women. India has the world's largest number of diarrheal deaths among children under the age of five, and nearly 88 percent die of diarrhoea mainly due to poor sanitation, unsafe drinking water and unhygienic practices.
Explaining the genesis of GIWA, Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati said, "GIWA - India is the first country level initiative of the global GIWA Foundation. GIWA in India aims to create a "WASH Revolution" by using the influence and reach of faith and faith leaders in communities as a powerful tool. GIWA will realize its vision by collaborating with faith leaders and faith-based organizations to galvanize collaborative action among India's faith and spiritual traditions and others like the central and state governments, international organizations, businesses, civil society organizations, indigenous communities, celebrities and youth, which operate from a wide range of perspectives and angles."
Adding the UNICEF perspective, its India WASH Chief, Sue Coates said, "The engagement of faith leaders opens the way for millions of people to hear about good WASH practices as part of their accepted way of living through belief and religion." While Advocacy and Communication Chief, Caroline den Dulk highlighted that religion was an important influencer in India In this light, "Partnership with faith based organisations and faith leaders is critical to ensure change in social norms connected with sanitation and hygiene. There are powerful examples of partnership with them globally. They can be immensely powerful advocacy and change agents as was seen in the case of eradication of polio in India. Their taking up the WASH Revolution is likely to produce remarkable results for children in India."
GIWA will bring together top faith leaders, political leaders, high level government officials, industrialists, celebrities, international organizations, NGOs and community based organizations in a historic "Worship to WASH" and "Women for WASH" Summit at Rishikesh, Uttrakhand, on 29-30 November, 2014. The Summit will also be the first to bring together women faith leaders on a common platform.
