More Focus On Clean India

More Focus On Clean India

- Naina Lal Kidwai

I HAVE NO DOUBT that India in 2018 will see better gross domestic product (GDP) growth than it did in 2017. All estimates suggest that the economy will improve to a likely GDP growth of 7.4-7.6 per cent in 2019 — too slow a trajectory for some, but at least directionally right. The benefits of GST (goods and services tax) will begin to flow through as early implementation pains are behind us and rectification actions are under way .

2018 will be an important year for performance under the Swacch Bharat objectives given the ambitious targets that were set to be achieved by 2019. Considerable progress has been made as government reports 75 per cent toilet coverage across 3 lakh villages, up from 38 per cent and 47,000 villages three years ago. This momentum is expected to continue through 2018 .