The ‘Nirmal Bharat Yatra’ to promote the message of making the country open defecation-free and ensuring proper sanitation in rural areas will begin from October 3, Union Minister Jairam Ramesh said on Friday.

Accompanied by actor Vidya Balan, the brand ambassador of the Ministry’s campaign for improving sanitation, Mr. Ramesh said the 2,000-km yatra will rope in people from all sections, including school children, to pass on the message.