PM Modi to be conferred Global Gatekeepers Award by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be honoured with the Global Gatekeepers Award for his leadership in India’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  The foundation stated that Narendra Modi is receiving the award at the Goalkeepers Global Goals Awards for the progress India has made in improving sanitation, as a part of its drive towards the achievement of UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. PM Modi will be receiving the award in the United States.

This is PM Modi’s third award in the span of the last ten days. The announcement was made by  MoS PMO, Jitendra Singh, who tweeted saying, “, “Another award, another moment of pride for every Indian as PM Modi’s diligent and innovative initiatives bring laurels from across the world.” Singh stated that PM Modu will receive the award from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan during his visit to the US.

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is one of the ambitious projects that was introduced during PM Modi’s first term as the Prime Minister of India.  The project was launched on October 2, 2014, on the occasion of Gandhi’s birth anniversary.

The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan aims to make India ‘Open Defecation Free‘ by 2019. Many states including Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala and Sikkim have already declared themselves to be ODF.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a private foundation owned by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda Gates. Bill Gates had previously even praised PM Modi for the launch of Ayushman Bharat scheme, the healthcare scheme that aims to provide free healthcare to over 10 crore people.

Background

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on August 24, 2019 honoured with the Order of Zayed, UAE’s highest civilian award. The honour was bestowed upon the Prime Minister to recognise his “pivotal role” in strengthening ties between the two nations. The award was conferred to PM Modi by UAE Crown Prince, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The Prime Minister was also conferred Bahrain Order-First Class by Bahrain’s King, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in recognition of his efforts to strengthen bilateral relations of India with the Kingdom of Bahrain on August 26, 2019. The award is also known as the King Hamad Order of the Renaissance.

(11)