Six long years ago on that Gandhi Jayanti amidst much fanfare on 2nd October 2014 the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was launched by Narendra Modi across the country. High expectations were raised but that cleanliness drive has however remained a mere paper fancy for ulterior political motives with the campaign miserably faltering across the nation while crores of tax-payers money has been recklessly poured down the drain.
Even in a tiny State like Goa that ghost of Swacch Bharat has been a total failure as garbage continues to be escalating and accumulated all over. The situation is only worsening by the day and has infact now reached a point of crisis. Our markets across the State are stinking while our bus terminals are no better. Government offices all over including the Secretariat at Porvorim is infested with uncleanliness galore. That Mission to ensure cleanliness and sanitation had to be a people’s movement and not a political one for those in Power to enrich their pockets.
The crores of rupees squandered by the Government on this failed campaign would have brought smiles and cheers to the multitude of poor and downtrodden if all that money was instead judiciously spent for their much needed upliftment.
Under the guise of Swachh Bharat what has infact been cleaned over the last six years is only the State coffers while the garbage and rubbish on our streets across has been mounting by the day.
May the one and only Father of our great Nation Mahatma Gandhi intercede from his heavenly abode. Let us at least now start cleaning our conscience to be true inheritors of our great Bapuji’s legacy.
AIRES RODRIGUES, Ribandar
