Interview / Naina Lal Kidwai, former country head, HSBC India.
It is not uncommon to find corporate CEOs supporting a social cause. But, to have a for-mer bank chief enthusiastically talking about faeces and its proper disposal takes things to a new level. Naina Lal Kidwai’s concern for sanitation came out of disgust for the way things were happening in the sector. At a conference in Stockholm, she felt embarrassed when India was lambasted for its poor sanitation. “As an Indian in the audience, it was awful to hear that,” she says. Her latest book, Survive or Sink, presents a practical approach to sanitation, waste management and pollution. The 61-year-old says it has been a fairly easy transition from the corner office in the HSBC headquarters in Fort, Mumbai, to checking toilets and open drains in villages.
THE WEEK met her at her sprawling farmhouse in Chhatarpur, Delhi—an island of calm, away from the din and bustle of the capital. The scorching summer heat stays outside her drawing room, a simple yet elegantly done space with ample natural light. Excerpts from an interview:
How would you rate the government’s Swachh Bharat Mission on a scale of one to ten?
This story is from the June 03, 2018 edition of THE WEEK.
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This story is from the June 03, 2018 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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