EMAIL TO THE EDITOR

Celebrities nominated as the Prime Minister’s brand ambassadors for the Clean India campaign filled TV screens on October 2 holding brooms. But the fact remains unswept that this is just a one-day affair, mostly cleaning clean streets strewn purposely with dry leaves and not going beyond a photo opportunity.

There should be the condition that they clean a place for more than 20 minutes or else return the brand ambassador title.

Condition should be imposed for every brand-ambassador to devote at least 20 minutes every day to clean streets or any other public-place to retain the title.

The Prime Minister had desired every citizen to devote 100 hours a year towards cleanliness. It can be done by doing away with cleaning staff in government-offices, because all those working in government offices including ministers and senior bureaucrats can devote first half hour in their offices to clean the place. Common premises and toilets can be cleaned on a turn-by-turn basis involving everyone in the office.

Charity is a big means of spreading filth where many persons erect pandals on streets and pavements for distributing food-items on auspicious occasions. People distributing food-items should be penalised heavily in case any garbage is strewn around and permission should be sought before engaging in such acts of charity.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author’s own.

(The author of the column is MADHU AGRAWAL)