This profile is part of the 2016 Global Citizen March Madness Challenge. The challenge asks you to vote for your favorite global citizens, as we match them up “tournament style” from a “Sweet 16” starting round, all the way down to a champion on April 4th.
Vote now in the Sweet 16 Round for all of your favorites HERE
Name: Narendra Modi
Hometown: Vadnagar, India
Profession: Prime Minister of India
Issue division: Water & sanitation
Quick facts:
- Most followed Asian leader on Twitter
- First Prime Minister born in independent India
- Hobbies: photography, technology
- 50% of India’s 1.25 billion population is under 25
Modi became the 15th Prime Minister of India in 2014. He campaigned as an underdog, someone with humble roots--he used to be a tea merchant--and he galvanized enormous public support. He came to be seen by some as a potential savior of India, a politician who would confront inequality, corruption and the country’s other problems. Of course, governing is complicated and there are no magic wands. But Modi has embarked on some ambitious campaigns.
One of his primary and most tangible goals (announced on the 2014 Global Citizen Festival stage) has been to eliminate the practice of open defecation by installing millions of toilets and latrines and changing behavioral norms through education. More than 500 million Indians were defecating in the open at the time.
Why is this important?
Open defecation contaminates water sources and leads to diseases such as cholera, typhoid and dysentery. It also causes diarrhea. Worldwide, 800,000 kids under the age of 5 die from diarrhea each year.
His campaign has been making progress. If he succeeds it will be regarded as one of the biggest public health victories of the 21st century.
That’s something to root for.
First round match-up
