Sehore: Sehore, the home district of the chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been declared ODF. But more than the government machinery, it were the volunteers who contributed to the success of the Swachhta Abhiyan. They made the people aware of the pitfalls of defecating in the open and persuaded them to build toilets in their homes. They even helped them build toilets. In short, they were the catalysts for change.
They had to face abuses and opposition when they tried to stop the villagers from defecating in the open. Some of them were even physically attacked. They bore all this with fortitude. But their contribution is not getting the recognition it deserves. They are being forced to make rounds of government officers to claim the honorarium promised to them. The Sarpanchas, panchayat secretaries and Rozagar Sahayaks are insulting and humiliating them.
One such case was brought to the notice of the collector during the Jansunwai on Tuesday. Bhuri Bhai, the Swachhta Doot of village panchayat Gwali of Javar Tehsil submitted an application to the collector Tarun Pithode that from 2015 to 2017, she inspired the residents of her village to build toilets in their homes. More than 100 new toilets came up as a result of his efforts.
But when she submitted the list of toilets got built by her to the sarapanch, the panchayat secretary and the Rozgar Sahayak to claim her honorarium, they asked her to get lost. When she protested, she was abused and humiliated. She said that the officials of the district panchayat had told her that the motivators would be entitled to honorarium.
Such complaints have been pouring from different parts of the district. Around 72 Swachhta Doots and 42 motivators were appointed in the district. The Swachhta Doots were supposed to be paid an honorarium of Rs 100 per toilet while the motivators were to be paid at the rate of Rs 1500 per month. But they are running from pillar to post to claim their dues.
