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

---

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.

Comments

'Threat to farmers’ rights': New seeds Bill sparks fears of rising corporate control

By Bharat Dogra As debate intensifies over a new seeds bill, groups working on farmers’ seed rights, seed sovereignty and rural self-reliance have raised serious concerns about the proposed legislation. To understand these anxieties, it is important to recognise a global trend: growing control of the seed sector by a handful of multinational companies. This trend risks extending corporate dominance across food and farming systems, jeopardising the livelihoods and rights of small farmers and raising serious ecological and health concerns. The pending bill must be assessed within this broader context.

Delhi Jal Board under fire as CAG finds 55% groundwater unfit for consumption

By A Representative A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India audit report tabled in the Delhi Legislative Assembly on 7 January 2026 has revealed alarming lapses in the quality and safety of drinking water supplied by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), raising serious public health concerns for residents of the capital.

Zhou Enlai: The enigmatic premier who stabilized chaos—at what cost?

By Harsh Thakor* Zhou Enlai (1898–1976) served as the first Premier of the People's Republic of China (PRC) from 1949 until his death and as Foreign Minister from 1949 to 1958. He played a central role in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for over five decades, contributing to its organization, military efforts, diplomacy, and governance. His tenure spanned key events including the Long March, World War II alliances, the founding of the PRC, the Korean War, and the Cultural Revolution.

Advocacy group decries 'hyper-centralization' as States’ share of health funds plummets

By A Representative In a major pre-budget mobilization, the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA), India’s leading public health advocacy network, has issued a sharp critique of the Union government’s health spending and demanded a doubling of the health budget for the upcoming 2026-27 fiscal year.

Stands 'exposed': Cavalier attitude towards rushed construction of Char Dham project

By Bharat Dogra* The nation heaved a big sigh of relief when the 41 workers trapped in the under-construction Silkyara-Barkot tunnel (Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand) were finally rescued on November 28 after a 17-day rescue effort. All those involved in the rescue effort deserve a big thanks of the entire country. The government deserves appreciation for providing all-round support.

Pairing not with law but with perpetrators: Pavlovian response to lynchings in India

By Vikash Narain Rai* Lynch-law owes its name to James Lynch, the legendary Warden of Galway, Ireland, who tried, condemned and executed his own son in 1493 for defrauding and killing strangers. But, today, what kind of a person will justify the lynching for any reason whatsoever? Will perhaps resemble the proverbial ‘wrong man to meet at wrong road at night!’

Jayanthi Natarajan "never stood by tribals' rights" in MNC Vedanta's move to mine Niyamigiri Hills in Odisha

By A Representative The Odisha Chapter of the Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD), which played a vital role in the struggle for the enactment of historic Forest Rights Act, 2006 has blamed former Union environment minister Jaynaynthi Natarjan for failing to play any vital role to defend the tribals' rights in the forest areas during her tenure under the former UPA government. Countering her recent statement that she rejected environmental clearance to Vendanta, the top UK-based NMC, despite tremendous pressure from her colleagues in Cabinet and huge criticism from industry, and the claim that her decision was “upheld by the Supreme Court”, the CSD said this is simply not true, and actually she "disrespected" FRA.

Why economic war waged by US has created the situation for Iran's turmoil

By Vijay Prashad Iran is in turmoil. Across the country, there have been protests of different magnitudes, with violence on the increase with both protesters and police finding themselves in the morgue. What began as work stoppages and inflation protests drew together a range of discontent, with women and young people frustrated with a system unable to secure their livelihood. Iran has been under prolonged economic siege and has been attacked directly by Israel and the United States not only within its borders, but across West Asia (including in its diplomatic enclaves in Syria). This economic war waged by the United States has created the situation for this turmoil, but the turmoil itself is not directed at Washington but at the government in Tehran.

Uttarakhand tunnel disaster: 'Question mark' on rescue plan, appraisal, construction

By Bhim Singh Rawat* As many as 40 workers were trapped inside Barkot-Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi after a portion of the 4.5 km long, supposedly completed portion of the tunnel, collapsed early morning on Sunday, Nov 12, 2023. The incident has once again raised several questions over negligence in planning, appraisal and construction, absence of emergency rescue plan, violations of labour laws and environmental norms resulting in this avoidable accident.

Search This Blog