Swacch Bharat and Nirmal Bangla projects are going on but not implemented

Representation by Kirity Roy, Secretary, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha

(MASUM) to the District Magistrate, North 24 Paraganas, West Bengal

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This is to bring to your notice the distressing state of health and family welfare as well as general infrastructure development in Gobra Village under Gobindapur Gram Panchayat, Swarupnagar Block, North 24 Paraganas District, West Bengal, situated on the Indo-Bangladesh border.

The population of the village largely belongs to the Muslim and the OBC communities. The state of sanitation in this village is deplorable to say the least. Roads and other public infrastructure also remain tragically underdeveloped. Additionally, no work has yet started in the village under the BADP scheme implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

The following villagers from Gobra Village, P.O. Gobindapur, P.S. Swarupnagar, District: North 24 Paraganas, applied for the construction of sanitation facilities in their respective houses in 2023 under the provisions of the Swachh Bharat Mission:

I. Pampa Ghosh (40 yo)

D/o Kenaram Ghosh

Adhaar no.: 435107753289

Swachh Bharat Application no.: 2141539474

II. Abdul rahim Mondal (35 yo)

S/o Azibar Mondal

Adhaar no.: 633090751152

Swachh Bharat Application no.: 2141906656

III. Samiul Gazi (36 yo)

S/o Moharali Gazi

Adhaar no.: 966120067287

Swachh Bharat Application no.: 2141274948

IV. Manirun Mondal (30 yo)

S/o Nur Islam Mondal

Adhaar no.: 410948573695

Swachh Bharat Application no.: 2140900155

V. Madhumita Ghosh (33 yo)

D/o Manoranjan Ghosh

Adhaar no.: 655056742666

Swachh Bharat Application no.: 2141539277

VI. Isarul Gazi (41 yo)

S/o Sirasul Gazi

Adhaar no. 763387726695

Swachh Bharat Application no. 2141946692

No initiative has been taken till date to even begin the necessary construction. Aforelisted villagers have repeatedly appealed to the members of Gobindapur Gram Panchayat to expedite the process, but to no avail. They are forced to live without safe hygiene and sanitation and excrete in the open, creating a massive health hazard as well as a huge pollution risk to groundwater as well as open water sources in the area. They are also often forced to use polythene bags to dispose of excreta, exacerbating plastic pollution as well as polluting the soil of the village.

In this situation, we appeal to you with the following urgent demands:

· Please begin the construction of pucca and safe sanitation facilities for the aforelisted villagers immediately under the Swachh Bharat Mission and/ or Nirmal Bangla and finish construction urgently, so that they can avail safe and hygienic sanitation.

· Please bring the village of Gobra under the aegis of Border Area Development Programme immediately and expedite the development of public infrastructure in the village.

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