If Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said, “Pehle Sauchalaya, Phir Devalaya” (first toilet, then temple) when he was Gujarat Chief Minister, his successor has gone one step ahead and has decided to celebrate the festival of Raksha Bandhan to inspire people, especially in rural areas to build toilets for sisters, daughters and daughter-in-laws. Besides, messages related to malnutrition and appeal to contribute overall development of Gujarat.
The first woman Chief Minister of Gujarat, Anandiben Patel is all set to celebrate upcoming Raksha Bandhan differently. Instead of celebrating the festival traditionally by just tying rakhi to brothers, she has decided to use the festivity to spread social message of ‘toilet in every home’ — not only in Gujarat but also across the country.
Patel, who ties Rakhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi every year, has sent thousands of Rakhis to key people including all Union Ministers in Modi’s Cabinet, all the key office-bearers of the BJP, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders, Gujarat’s council of Ministers. Besides, she has also sent Rakhis within her own State to all Municipality members, Sarpanches, MlAs, MPs, members of district and taluka (tehsil) Panchayat members as well as prominent people of all walks of life — teachers, advocates, journalists, doctors and others. The letter accompanying rakhis sent outside Gujarat is in Hindi.
Along with Rakhi, she has also sent five different kinds of letters with messages of toilets and women’s safety. The letter signed by the Chief Minister says that the safety of women is compromised if there are no toilets in the home.
“As a brother, I expect you to put your might behind restoring respect and safety to the women of the homes. I demand and request you to build a toilet in your village”, the letter suggests.
Other letters carry messages pertaining to fight against malnutrition as well as contribution in the State’s development to take Gujarat to next level.