Sanitation Woes in Assam….deplorable condition and no initiative
“Cleanliness is next to godliness” only if practiced practically instead of just lisping theoretically! Proper sanitation at home can only lead to a cleaner, healthier society but sadly this time tested maxim seems to have fallen on deaf ears of the general public.
Contaminated water, poor sanitation have always been the causes of many an epidemic in our society. The recent outbreak of Diarrhea that has plagued the locality of Uzanbazar since the past few days is an instance of both public and government apathy towards this problem.
Two patients, including a nine year old boy died and 18 were hospitalised after an outbreak of diarrhea was reported in Padumpukhuri area of Uzanbazar yesterday. The joint director of Health services, Kamrup K C Das said that the numbers are going up with nine more persons falling ill who have been hospitalized. The total numbers of affected person have gone up to 27. He also stated that the reason behind the outbreak is the contamination of drinking water and poor sanitation in the area. Water samples have been sent to the laboratories for testing and tests have been carried out on the patients. A makeshift medical camp has also been set up to provide assistance to the people of the area by the health department.
At a time when proper sanitation in villages has become the new mantra in the country’s Rural Development Ministry such a drive is conspicuous by its absence in Assam. The trend to make rural areas clean by employing scientific methods is gaining popularity in other states, a drive that was inspired by Gandhiji’s dream of a clean and healthy society who believed that sanitation was more important than political independence.
In 2003-04, the Rural Development Ministry had first initiated the Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP) to motivate the village folk towards keeping their respective villages clean. The award had motivated thousands of people to follow good sanitary practices. Such a drive should also be introduced in urban areas which are supposedly more aware of sanitary measures.
Developed countries have a very organized system of garbage disposal. Every household are provided with different coloured bins in order to dispose of their perishable and non perishable rubbish which are later collected from the households to the allotted dumping yards or recycling areas. They follow the three R’s of reuse, reduce and recycle which benefits the people as well as the government.
Sadly Guwahatians may never experience such a system due to rampant corruption and red tapism. Added to leaks in the pipe network poor drainage and wearing out of water pipes the future looks grim and bleak. A complete overhaul of all the sanitation measures can only lead to a healthy society.
Random Stories
27 May 2013 - 10:28am |
Abdul Gani
It was an evening full of music and light as everybody tried to knock the heaven’s door with guitars and harmonicas. Yes, these are the bunch of passionate fans of iconic American musician Bob Dylan...
4 Aug 2007 - 11:10am |
editor
Video Film “Saharar Mayajal” is slated for release on September. The shooting of Saharar Mayajal has been completed and the editing of this new video film is going on at present.The film...
9 Mar 2011 - 9:53pm |
AT News
Entrepreneurs Development Programme (EDP) of KVIC is organized by Gram Vikas Parishad (GVP) a state level Non- Govt. Organization of Nagaon District held at Rangaloo during 21st February to 5th March...
25 Feb 2016 - 8:49pm |
Hantigiri Narzary
At-least six persons, apart from an ex-BLT member and Youth BPF leader and three militant cadres from Adavasi Dragon Fighters (ADF) and United Gorkha Peoples Organization (UGPO) were arrested by...
Other Contents by Author
“When bamboo flowers, famine, death and destruction follows”, says a tribal legend in Mizoram. Who better than the hardy Mizos would know this, considering that theirs is probably the only land on earth where history is closely intertwined with the mysterious cycle of bamboo flowering? Back in 1959, bamboo flowering in the state set off a chain of events in the rugged hilly state that ultimately led to one of the most powerful insurgencies against the Indian union spanning over two decades.Once again the legend threatens to become a reality as thousands of rats are rampaging through rice and vegetable fields in Mizoram, adding fuel to the growing fears of famine in the region....
The towering white structure of the Gauhat High Court, a landmark of Guwahati stands tall glimmering in the city skyline. A keeper of law and a defender of justice it has been advocating justice since the past sixty years of glorious existence.It was way back in the year 1948 on April 5 Ronald Francis Lodge was appointed the first Chief Justice of the Assam High Court. The Assam High Court was inaugurated by then chief justice of India Justice Harilal Kania in the present house of the district and sessions judge , Kamrup Guahati on the western bank of Dighalipukhuri. The inaugural ceremony was attended by many luminaries of Assam including Sir Akbar Hydari, Pemier Gopinath Bordoloi,...
Since the last few years the world has witnessed a not so silent revolution aiming women emancipation carried out mostly by the women for the women. The revolution has reached such a stage that today many women claim to walk shoulder to shoulder in the journey of life.An International Women’s Day observed on the March 8th is a flame that proves that women have come of age in an otherwise patriarchal society. Today there is hardly anything that a man can do which a woman cannot, provided she wills.Along with the rest of the world Guwahati too celebrated International Women’s Day. The Directorate of Social welfare organized a day long seminar and sale cum exhibition of the...
Assam tea is all set to make inroads in the markets of Pyramid land - Egypt. Assam tea producers are considering Egypt as the latest destination for Assam tea.Delegations of tea planters from the state recently back from Egypt and Israel have stated that Egypt has huge potential for the export of Assam tea. Egypt is presently importing its maximum tea from Kenya, which incidentally is the world’s largest tea producer.Of the 75 million kilogram which the total market area of tea in Egypt, 90 percent is supplied by Kenya and Indian tea including Assam tea supplies about 2.7 million kilograms (2006) of tea.The political unrest in Kenya may become beneficial to Assam if it takes advantage...
It is heartwarming to know that there are people and organizations that care to spare a thought for our four legged counterparts with whom we share this earth. Yes, it is a respite after the horrible incidents of poachers brutally mutilating rhinos to possess their horns to realize that scarred rhinos are being nurtured to health and returned to where they belong. The lions Club of Guwahati Seva has decided to donate a hydraulic tail-lift to the People For Animals (PFA). Sick and injured animals which are generally pulled by chains and ropes to be transported to hospitals will no longer have to undergo pain as the Hydraulic Lift will be used to pick them from streets to the PFA hospital....
To be or not to be a heritage site…. is the dilemma persering Majuli -- the largest river island in the world. The Centre seems to be at its wits end on deciding the status of Majuli island. The Centre has once again renominated Majuli island for inscription in the World Heritage Site List under the ‘Cultural Landscape’. After losing the battle in 2006 Majuli is once again back with a bang this year.The surprise announcement came yesterday even as Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi declared that the Rs 20 crore sanctioned by the planning Commission in Delhi for the river island would not be spent on flood control measures but for preservation of the heritage sites.Majuli...
The flu – bird flu is back with a bang. The state Animal Husbandary and Veterinary Department sounded a health alert on Avian influnza in poultry in all the districts of Assam.Following the Bird Flu outbreak in Bengal the state has beefed up security measures so as to curb its effect in the state. Reports are rife that the bird flu outbreak in Bengal could turn out to be the worst in the country and may measure up to the crisis faced by Thailand, Bangladesh and Vietnam.Assam sounded its alert in the bordering districts which share borders with Bengal including Goalpara, Dubri, Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon.RK Sharma, the deputy Secretary, Veterinary and Animal Husbandary Department stated...
It has finally arrived the dream car of the middle class Indian –the Nano, a Tata small car which was unveiled at the Auto Expo in New Delhi last night. Touted as the People’s car and the world’s cheapest at that the Nano is priced at an affordable Rs. One lakh. However it is to be noted here that the sticker price is not inclusive of the 12.5 percent value added tax and transportation costs from the plant at Singur, near Calcutta from where it will be manufactured.Ratan Tata, the Tata group chairman has shown the word that promises are made to be kept! The announcement of the small car project was made by Tata at the Geneva Auto Show in 2003 where his announcements were...
President’s rule was clamped in Nagaland and the Assembly kept in suspended animation after the coalition party Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) led by Rio’s Nagaland’s People’s Front (NPF) despite winning a controversial no confidence motion on December 13.Rio survived the trial of strength by 23-19 votes in te 60 member house. It survived because speaker Kiyanielie Peseyie barred three Independent MLAs from voting on the motion and declared invalid the votes of nine dissident NPF MLAs. The Neiphiu Rio government in Nagaland would have completed its full term of office but it failed to do so as it’s rule was ended by the declaration of president’...
Another year has gone by and it seems that in the entire year everything else but time stood still. For the troubles that Assam was afflicted with are still there but the year has passed with no one the wiser. Goodbye 2007 – Hello 2008 but will it be any different. Will the terrorist bombs go silent in this brand new year? Will killing of the innocent stop this year? Will families feel sure about their dear ones this year? Will bandhs become a thing of the past this year? Of course not whom are we kidding?The strides of modernism seem to have ushered in its wake a host of psychological anxiety to man’s life or else why is the entire world wallowing in strife. Religious...
Comments
Pages
Add new comment