the goan I network
MARGAO
Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro and local residents of Aquem-Baixo on Friday cried foul over the nuisance and sanitation issues staring at the local populace as hundreds of young men from across the country descended at the Rawanfond military camp for the recruitment in the army.
As the youngsters used the neighbourhood to answer nature’s call, Faleiro joined the locals to register their protest over the failure of the military to provide sanitation, including mobile eco-toilets to address sanitation problem. In fact, Faleiro told the military officials to stop the youngsters from going to the neighbourhood to answer nature’s call and to respect the human dignity.
“We have the highest respect for the military, but what is happening at Rawanfond is against human dignity and respect. Around 10,000 youngsters are expected to come to Rawanfond for the interview, but where’s the sanitation for these people,” he told the media after inspecting the area.
He said the military officials insisted that the youngsters are expected to use the hotels and the railway station to answer nature’s call, but the ground reality showed that they have ended up in dirtying the entire locality. “The capacity of the Rawanfond camp is 1,000 people but around 10,000 youngsters are expected to come at the camp for the interview. They are made to sit along side the main road before they are called inside. The camp has football ground inside, which could be used to accommodate these young recruits,” Faleiro added.
He said it is a disgrace for the village and the country that when the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is talking about Swachh Bharat, young military recruits are forced to dirty the residential area for want of toilets. “I cannot blame the young recruits. Where will they go when there are no facilities provided by the camp,” he said.
The Navelim MLA recalled that these new recruits were given the voting rights in the last Assembly election and the voters had cast their votes as per the directions of the military authorities. “They had tried to take over the village with the voting rights when they are in no way associated with the village development. Human dignity and respect should be maintained by the military. It is sad to see the plight of the recruits,” he added.
Saying that this is the last time the villagers will accept this process outside the camp, Faleiro said he has asked the district Collector, South and the Margao Police to streamline the situation so that locals are not inconvenienced on the sanitation front by the recruitment drive.
