Pravin U Sardessai
During a recent function held in Panjim for honouring Self Help Groups, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar stressed the need for such groups to involve themselves in Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan initiated by the centre. He advised these groups to undertake the task of door-to-door garbage collection and proper disposal so as to keep Goa clean and tidy. He also asserted that the state government has been formulating a scheme to extend financial support to SHGs that get involved in the collection of garbage.
As a matter of fact, SHGs remain totally busy in their respective tasks. Most of them intend to pay loan instalments to the concerned banks at the appropriate time and for achieving this, they shoulder great responsibility in meeting the necessary target of sales pertaining to different items that they prepare on regular basis. Due to this, they hardly get any time to undertake other activities. Hence instead of involving SHGs in cleanliness-related activities, it would be appropriate to hold municipalities and village panchayats accountable in this important task.
In Ponda, dustbins that were installed at different locations in the initial stage are now found missing from the concerned spots. Hence people are accustomed of dumping garbage and other unwanted material in open area as also along the roadside. They need to be fined accordingly.
The situation is no different in villages. In villages of Adpai and Durbhat (also in Ponda), residents dump garbage inside the drains and nullahs. During the inauguration ceremony of sewerage treatment plant held at Durbhat recently, garbage was noticed along the stretch of road leading towards the Durbhat jetty. Hence the very purpose of Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan has been defeated. Municipalities and VPs failing to maintain cleanliness should be taken to task at once.
The state government has been paying huge sums of money in terms of salaries to the officials at the municipalities and VPs. However, if no progress is being achieved in timely collection and proper disposal of garbage, then whatever salary paid to these officials would be a mere waste of public funds which the state government certainly can’t afford
