Madhya Pradesh: 'Shaurya' task force on cards to curb open defecation

Authorities in Madhya Pradesh have hinted at the creation of a task force called 'Shaurya' to detain people who have been caught defecating in the open.

Mandsaur District collector Swatantra Singh told media, "It (open defecation) is a big crime and to control this we are thinking of provisions to send such people to jail."

"A provision that is being talked about is of creating 'Shaurya' forces who will arrest people defecating in open and authorities on their level will motivate such people not to do such a thing so that our district's image is not tarnished.

Singh maintained that open defecation portrays the country in a wrong light and added that there was no excuse for not building toilets when government assistance for the construction was being provided.

"It spoils the image of our country in front of the world. It (toilet) is a basic necessity, just like we wear clothes. It's very unfortunate that even after incentives from the government, which is now Rs. 12,000 to build a toilet, people are defecating in the open," said Singh.

"If it is found that people who have all resources but are still not constructing toilets or defecate openly despite having a toilet we will see how we can take action against them," he said.

Singh further added "If BPL cardholders did not build toilets then, their BPL cards will be cancelled. Notice has already been issued in this regard so that people have a slight fear somewhere that they have to build toilets."

Saying that Mandsaur is one of the 46 districts selected for completely eradicating open defecation under the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan', the district collector added "ahead of a national level meeting to be held in Raipur in July, we have chalked out a complete plan to motivate the authorities and the public in all blocks of the district, to build toilets."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Mission on 2 October 2014, saying, "A clean India would be the best tribute India could pay to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150 birth anniversary in 2019."

The mission was launched throughout length and breadth of the country as a national movement focused on sanitation.

--ANI