Madhya Pradesh unit of Jamiat-e-Ulema-Hind state president Haji Mohammad Haroon commenting over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Swachchhta Abhiyan’ (Sanitation campaign), has said that by handing over brooms in the hands of officials will not suffice to make India neat and clean. The country will not become neat and clean just by this symbolic act.
Haji Haroon in a statement here on Wednesday said, for India to be neat and clean, firm and sustained efforts are needed and not just symbolism alone. To start with, in the first phase, the number of sanitary staff should be increased four-fold by hiking the budget accordingly under this head. Then, the ‘Swachchhta Abhiyan’ should be monitored to see that there is no bias in the cleansing drive and is not restricted to certain and few selected areas only wherein the elite reside or work.
He said, in fact, it is a sorry state of affairs that in the areas of minorities, weaker classes and backward sections of society, in particular Muslim wards, the cleansing drive is a sham and is not as forceful as it should be. This has negative effects. Hence, the cleansing drive should be managed and maintained through proper norms. No areas should be abandoned and left out to fend for itself on its own.
The State Governments, municipalities, janpads and panchayats, all should allot sufficient budget for the ‘Swachchhta Abhiyan’ and see it is properly utilised and is increased accordingly from time to time. The officials and work force should be made accountable for any lapse on their part.