Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, one of the flagship schemes of prime minister Narendra Modi was discussed at the 102nd Indian Science Congress hosted by Mumbai University on Sunday.

“The major issue is about using the toilets and not about building them. The themes of Make in India, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan are related to science and through the Indian Science Congress; the technologically and socially sound models presented and suggested in the congress  will encourage people to find more such solutions,” said RA Mashelkar, veteran scientist, who has been appointed as chairman of the technological expert panel for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

In the session chaired by Mashelkar, five speakers, including Sudheendra Kulkarni of Observer Research Foundation, Rajeev Kher of 3S and Saraplast, Pradeep Lokhande of Rural Relations , Swapnil Chaturvedi of Samagra and Uday Salunkhe, director- Welingker Institute of Management Development and Research presented their ideas and innovations on Clean India.

Kulkarni, while speaking about, Mahatma Gandhi, as a pioneer and inspiration for Swachh Bharat said, “It should be a government-backed people movement. Mahatma Gandhi was a sanitation scientist; he gave an equal importance to sanitation over political independence.”

Mashelkar said suggestions gathered through the session will be conveyed to the PM.