Kevin D’Souza has expressed his opinion revolving the much-hyped Clean-India mission through the article titled “Swachh Bharat Mission has a long way to go”(February 9). I desire to express my viewpoint on this subject.
Right from the civilized countries of Western Europe, Scandinavian nations, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore to Japan — streets remain absolutely clean and free of garbage and dirt. But the Prime Minister, President, Governors of the said nations do not have to come out on the streets with brooms in hand! Neither the Page 3 personalities nor the common citizens also have to clean up the streets! Rather the said countries have established proper system in place where people get adequately punished for littering the streets and there exist employees who collect the garbage regularly from the scheduled spots where it get dumped. Why doesn’t India do the same? Especially when there exist employees in Corporation and Municipalities appointed to clean up the streets and also get paid for it. So if they do not perform their allotted job, they should be held accountable for it. Also members of the public can be legally taken to task if they litter the streets.
The State holds every right to advise the public to maintain cleanliness in the localities and streets. But how can they be asked to clean up the streets when paid cleaners and sweepers exist in various civic and administrative bodies at the expense of taxpayers’ hard-earned money? Rather the State should install a proper well-oiled machinery and system in place for regular cleanliness and maintenance of surroundings.
And what do the Who’s Who of India’s political, film, corporate and sports world mean to say by grabbing a broom one fine morning and sweeping the “clean garbage” carefully gathered before the camera starts rolling! That they will play to the gallery for a single day and rest of the society i.e common people would religiously sweep the streets on daily basis by providing relief and paid holidays to the official paid cleaners?
