This is shocking and even, more than that this was not expected from the authority concerned with the Swachh Bharat Mission that recently an unexpected incident has come to light. This is a matter of Bulandshahr’s Ichhawari village in Uttar Pradesh which has lately captured the headlines for all the wrong reasons. It is seen that the toilets were constructed under the Swachh Bharat Mission in the particular village bears the titles with pictures of Mahatma Gandhi and the national emblem. This is highly disrespectful and irresponsible behaviour on the part of the authority concerned with the mission.
A person of the locality said, “These tiles were set up on the orders of the village head. When we complained against it, we were told not to interfere as it was a decision of higher authorities.”
If such statements made by the villagers are based on valid grounds then this calls for a strict action against the village head along with the higher authorizes who do not even know how to give respect to two of the highly honourable symbols of the country. Mahatma Gandhi, being the father of the nation and the national emblem being the symbol of the Indian democracy are subject to receive the highest level of honour.
The villagers are even aware of what they should do and when they started protesting against the tiles being used and leaked video footage of the toilets on various social media platforms, the matter has lately been able to catch the attention of the greater viewers.
The incident was immediately reported to the district administration and on being examined by the officials the tiles bearing national symbols on walls of toilets were found as it was alleged. District Panchayati Raj Officer (DPRO) Bulandshahr Amarjeet Singh says, “Around 508 toilets were built under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in this village. There were 13 toilets with symbols of Mahatma Gandhi and Ashoka Chakra. We have formed a team and inspected all the toilets. We have removed these tiles.”