‘Kids can help in realising Swachh Bharat dream’
Many countries are very clean. I think poverty is one of the reasons why India lags behind.
AKHILESH YADAV, UP chief minister
LUCKNOW: Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said the dream of ‘Swachh Bharat’ could be realised through children as it would be much easier to teach them the importance of sanitation than adults. Speaking at the launch of ‘Changing Behaviour: Creating Sanitation Change Leaders’, a campaign initiated for three districts of the state, he said, “Many countries are very clean. I think poverty is one of the reasons why India lags behind.”
The CM asserted that if Swachh Bharat campaign was to move ahead, it had to be through UP. On the occasion, the CM informed the gathering about the state government’s initiative to release a book for children ‘Hum Aur Hamara Swasthya’, which carries lessons on importance of sanitation. Expressing dissatisfaction over working style of sanitation workers appointed under the Swachh Bharat campaign, he said, “In most cases, they have ‘sublet’ their job to others.” Yadav also targeted gram pradhans for not playing their role with honesty. In addition, he held urban people responsible for polluting rivers passing through cities.
RAMESH ATTACKS PM
Senior Congress leader and former union minister Jairam Ramesh, who had launched the Nirmal Bharat campaign under the UPA government, attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi without naming him.
“The one (PM Modi) who opposed me (then) has now launched Swachh Bharat campaign,” said Ramesh. Urging the CM to ban manual scavenging in the state, he said, “Despite ban, the practice is rampant in many states.” Ramesh also stressed on the importance of checking defecation in open.
On the occasion, Bollywood actress Vidya Balan, who is brand ambassador of Swachh Bharat campaign, referred to UP as ‘Ummeedon ka Pradesh’. She praised the CM for launching Women Powerline. Swami Chidanand Saraswati, president and founder of Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh and Jack Sim, founder, World Toilet Organisation, were also present.