Hisar in Central Haryana to be developed as one of cleanest cities of country, says Kamal Gupta

| | Chandigarh
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Hisar in Central Haryana to be developed as one of cleanest cities of country, says Kamal Gupta

Tuesday, 04 January 2022 | MANOJ KUMAR | Chandigarh

Kamal Gupta, a doctor,  who recently assumed charge as cabinet minister of Haryana with portfolio of Urban Local Bodies says that to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan a complete success, an effective campaign will be launched to make the urban areas of the State clean and Hisar or any other city of Central Haryana will be selected and developed as one of cleanest cities of the country.  Elected MLA from Hisar Assembly constituency in years- 2014 and 2019, he also holds the portfolio of ‘Housing for All’. 

An RSS activist since childhood, Gupta who originally belongs to Bidhana village in Fatehabad, believes that a society does not become “modern” not by superficial appearance as progress and modernisation means adopting lifestyles that reflect collective maturity and vision. He says the senior officers have been asked to work on the principles of punctuality, responsibility, honesty and regularity. Excerpts from the interview

What will be your first priority as a Minister?

First of all, I thank the party leadership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and State Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for giving me the chance to serve the people as a cabinet minister of the State. Being a Minister of Urban Local Bodies, my priorities would be to make the cities clean and free from stray animals and for this cooperation of public representatives, social organizations, voluntary organizations, officers, employees and common citizens will also be sought.  Many schemes of Centre and State Governments are being implemented to increase housing and other infrastructural facilities in the cities and Under the ‘Housing for All’ scheme, accommodation will be provided to the poor and other intended beneficiaries in urban areas.

How do you view your role?

I have been in politics over the last two decades. It is a new experience. Emphasis will be laid on the execution of the government schemes for the betterment of the people of the State.

What are shortcomings you observed during a recent surprise inspection at the offices of Municipal Corporation, Panchkula?

In the first interaction with the senior officers of the department concerned, I have asked them to carry out surprise inspections in the offices of their jurisdictional limit and ensure that employees are reported for duty on time daily. I too carried out a surprise inspection at the Municipal Corporation offices in Panchkula two days ago and found the majority of the staff absent.  I felt disappointed. It is a matter of concern that large numbers of the employees were absent. I think it is the incompetency of concerned officers. Strict action will be taken against those found absent and the officials will be held accountable. The senior officers have been asked to serve notices to those employees who were found absent. I ordered the officials concerned to take strict action against those missing from the office without a genuine reason.

 

What strategies would you adopt to improve the city's rankings under ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’?

To improve cleanliness, steps like night sweeping, door-to-door garbage collection and installation of mobile and e-toilets will be taken in the city, which would help in improving rankings under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. We will be able to achieve the desired level of cleanliness with the collective efforts of the residents, especially the sanitation workers and other concerned department officials who work day and night to keep the cities clean.  Hisar or any other city of Central Haryana will be selected and developed as one of cleanest cities of the country. For this, a team of senior officers will soon visit Indore, the cleanest city of the country, to study the parameters of its cleanliness and after that under a pilot project; action plan will be prepared at ward level. Schemes being implemented by the Centre and State Governments will be expedited. World class facilities would be made available in all the cities of the State. I would work in the allocated departments on the principles of punctuality, responsibility, honesty and regularity. These principles will not be compromised. The departmental officers have been asked to carry out development works on the basis of these principles.

How has been your academic and political journey?

I had my schooling in the Charkhi Dadri. Later I decided to become a doctor and attended Rohtak Medical College in Rohtak, from where I obtained my MBBS and MS with specialization in surgery. I worked for the Government of Haryana for 10 years before moving to Hisar to set up a private practice as a surgeon.  I contested the first assembly elections from Hisar in 1996 in which I lost. I also contested an election in 2000. In the year 2012, I was made BJP district president of Hisar district. I was elected as MLA from Hisar in 2014 and 2019.

By profession you were a doctor. When did you think of joining politics?

I studied MBBS from Rohtak Medical and was active in student politics. Influenced by the ideology of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, I became a volunteer and never stopped. An RSS activist since childhood, I retain the Swayamsevak’s tendency to downplay the “Swayam” giving precedence to “Seva”.  I live with the people and try to find solutions to their concerns. Their problems are heard patiently followed by action for its redress.

Passion to work for the people had motivated me to join RSS first and later BJP. I interact with the people by organising religious and other events also. I want to serve the nation in every possible way.

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