Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Dec 1: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that the “Swachh Bharat” campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi two years ago as a country-wide cleanliness drive, has now assumed extended dimensions and called for “Swachh Bharat” campaign to clean black money.
Dr Jitendra Singh was addressing the inaugural programme of “Swachh Bharat” fortnight beginning today, organized by the Institute of Secretariat Training and Management (ISTM) which is affiliated to Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), Govt of India. He also interacted with traders and shopkeepers of the adjoining market in the vicinity and met students and youngsters at the ATM points to enquire about their response to the Modi Government’s decision to ban / change currency notes.
Addressing the participants from different walks of life, Dr Jitendra Singh said, over two years ago when Prime Minister launched “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan”, many people had refused to believe that it could achieve its declared objective. However, with the passage of time, he said, it assumed the form of a household drive with mass participation and led to the construction of over 4 lakh school toilets in one year and several States embarking on “Open Defecation Free” (ODF) drive.
In the same vein, Dr Jitendra Singh said, some critics had expressed skepticism about the Government’s resolve to eradicate the circulation of black-money and even expressed doubts when the Prime Minister made the historic announcement regarding the change of legal tender of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes on November 8, but, he said, within just three weeks, we have seen the whole country rising up in enthusiasm to support the decision and even the poorest of the poor sections of society as well as the most illiterate of the illiterate also ready to contribute in cleaning out the dirt of black-money and parallel economy in Indian society.
The ultimate objective of any cleanliness drive in the society, Dr Jitendra Singh said, was clean surroundings as well as clean transactions. Once the nation is able to achieve the objective of consciousness in physical cleanliness as well as transactions through legitimate money, it will not only reinforce the economic growth of the country, but would also reorient our social behavior towards personal and economic management in life, he added.
Brushing aside the allegations of people going through inconvenience because of remonetization, Dr Jitendra Singh said, it is a tribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s honesty and courage of conviction that even the poorest of the poor in every nook and corner of the country are feeling inspired today to cope up with the initial hardship, and yet offer all cooperation and support to carry forward the drive against black-money.
Union Secretary DoPT B.P. Sharma, senior officers of Ministry of Personnel, faculty of ISTM and trainees of the institute also joined in the cleanliness drive.
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