Raje, Kalyan Singh join clean India mission

JAIPUR: Wielding a broom, chief minister Vasundhara Raje on Thursday launched 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan' from Dhankya village in Jaipur district, the birth place of Jan Sangh leader Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. On the occasion, Raje announced a financial assistance of Rs 70 crore for cleanliness in gram panchayats failing under the jurisdiction of Jaipur Development Authority.Stressing on cleanliness, which is necessary to promote tourism, Raje said that each individual in the state should contribute in this mission. "It is not a one man's duty. Every one will have to resolve to make the state and the country clean. Only if there is cleanliness that tourists will come and industries will be set up," said Raje.She resolved to eradicate open defecation from the state for once and all. "We would like to get away with open defecation in the next four years. Similarly, those schools that don't have toilets, our government is committed to construct it. There are schools that have toilets but are not properly maintained. A pool of funds will be developed for their upkeep," said Raje.Meanwhile, 120 gram panchayats will receive Rs 50 lakh while Chomu and Bhagru municipalities will get Rs 2.50 crore for the sanitation and cleanliness. Jaipur Municipal Corporation has also been sanctioned Rs 5 crore. The money allocated will be used for construction of drainages, public toilets and cemented roads. The chief minister, while announcing the assistance, urged concerned authorities to ensure that money is being properly used.Later, Raje along with Jaipur rural MLA Rajpal Singh Shekhwat and MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore cleaned the platform of Dhankya railway station.Governor Kalyan Singh also graced the occasion. He was requested at the last moment to join the cleanliness drive which he accepted. In his address he said that "By year 2019, we should be able to send this message that if Gandhiji gave us freedom, we were able to give him clean India".He said that it is a shame that women still have to go out for defecation. He also pointed out that "Swachh Bharat" also holds a hidden agenda of unity. "This mission involves everyone and demolishes all caste, creed and other barriers. Cleanliness is a universal mission and everyone should participate in it," said Singh. He also administered the oath of making India clean by 2019.