The dream India of Mahatma Gandhi and others was not just a nation with political freedom but also a clean and developed one. Chief minister Harish Rawat said this after administering the oath of sanitation to school children and adults under clean India mission at a programme organised at Gandhi Park on Friday under clean India mission on the occasion of birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister lal Bahadur Shastri.
Rawat said that at a time when the whole world is affected by terrorism, the principle of non-violence espoused by Gandhi appears to be the only solution to the problem. The CM further said that Gandhi had linked sanitation with the national freedom struggle. He said that considerable work has been done in the sanitation sector under the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan which is now being carried forward under clean India mission.
The CM said, “The State Government has committed itself to making Chamoli and Bageshwar Nirmal districts-ensuring total sanitation. The Government will work with urban local bodies towards sanitation. We have also decided that it will be mandatory for a person to have a toilet at home for contesting Panchayat election. A letter has been written to Gram Pradhans requesting them to utilise a portion of 14th Finance Commission funds on tree plantation and sanitation works. Those who are capable should put some of their resources in the sanitation mission.”
Hailing the exhibition of documents based on Gandhi put up by the State archives, the CM said that if possible, a gallery would be provided to display these. Referring to former prime minister lal Bahadur Shastri’s birth anniversary, Rawat said that Shastri appeared simple but had a great character. He had generated self confidence among the citizens during adverse circumstances by raising the slogan of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’.