In a groundbreaking debut at the World Economic Forum 2024 in Davos, Harpic India’s innovative ‘Swoosh Germs Away! Kit,’ developed in collaboration with News18 Network and Sesame Workshop India Trust, has garnered international attention for its role in Mission Swachhta aur Paani.

The unique kit, unveiled by the President of India Droupadi Murmu in September 2023, aims to promote inclusive sanitation practices and appropriate toilet behavior as part of a pan-India campaign, the channel said in a press release.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri applauded the kit’s transformative power, emphasizing its significance in educating children about sanitation. Ravi Bhatnagar, Director at Reckitt, expressed gratitude for the global recognition, highlighting the commitment to fostering a healthier future.

Sesame Workshop India Trust Managing Director, Sonali Khan, highlighted the kit’s interactive features, designed for sustained behavioral adoption by children. The kit, based on the ‘Sanitation Hygiene Education Framework,’ includes 3D pop-up books, jigsaw puzzles, and an activity booklet featuring Sesame’s engaging characters.

‘Mission Swachhta aur Paani,’ a collaborative initiative by Harpic and News18, seeks to foster sustainable sanitation practices and ensure access to clean water. In its third season, the campaign aligns with the Swachh Bharat Mission and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Avinash Kaul, CEO Network18, expressed pride in India’s leadership at Davos, emphasizing the initiative’s call to action. He thanked Reckitt India for its dedication to the cause, foreseeing a continued collaboration for a cleaner, more sustainable world.

The curriculum’s focus on instilling toilet etiquette in children aims to address the public health crisis in India, with millions of lives lost annually to diarrhoea, particularly among children under five. The ‘Swoosh Germs Away!’ Kit holds the potential to make a decisive contribution to mitigating such devastating occurrences, offering a ray of hope in the pursuit of a healthier future.