MP minister Gopal Bhargava today said the mason whose name was mentioned by the PM in his 'Mann ki Baat' address has constructed over 100 toilets in his panchayat area and not just his village, and alleged that the Opposition is raking up the issue to play politics over it.
Bhargava said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned about the development in his recent 'Mann ki Baat' radio programme with an aim to motivate people to construct toilets in their homes.
He also said the state government has not provided any such figure to the PMO.
Bhojpura village in MP's Sehore district has 53 houses and after the PM's address, in which he mentioned that mason Dilip Singh Malviya has constructed over 100 toilets on his own village, the Congress raked up the issue.
"The number is not an issue and the Opposition is just raking it up for politics. The larger issue is that Dilip has constructed toilets and the same is being highlighted by the PM to motivate others," the state Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister told PTI.
"Over 100 toilets were constructed by Dilip in the entire panchayat area which comprises of Bhojpura, Mohanpura, Seetapathari, Kalakhedi and Bankapathari villages," Bhargava said after verifying facts by sending officials.
"But the larger issue is motivating people to construct toilets. Number is just a figure and the Prime Minister's intention was to encourage people to construct toilets in their households as part of the 'Swachh Bharat Mission' and therefore, he highlighted Dilip's work after reading about it in some paper or social media," he said.
Prime Minister Modi had praised Dilip in his radio
programme for his extra-ordinary role in cleanliness drive (Swachh Bharat) by stating that he is trying hard to ensure every house in his village has a toilet.
Bhargava also said the state government has no dearth of funds for the purpose and directed the concerned officials to transfer the entire amount due to the mason (for construction of the toilets) soon in his account after getting relevant papers.
The minister also said that he has allocated adequate funds for the construction of toilets and directed officials to provide the same without any problems.
"A huge number of houses don't have toilets in our villages that cause a hardship to women and children. I have advised each and every household to get a toilets constructed at their places," Dilip had said after Modi praised him.
Malviya also said that following his advice, some people have taken loans and other have sold their household material to get toilets constructed.
"Entire village is actively involved in the cleanliness drive," he said.
"We are grateful to Prime Minister Modi, who has praised our work," Dilip had said.
