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15th August 2005 - The debate and its results

We were happy to host both councillors in this years Indepedence Day celebrations, just as we did last year. The actual events went without a hitch. There was a bit of a friendly cajoling between the councillors as to who would raise the flag, with one goading the other to go and have the honour. In the end both Debabrata Majumder (ward no. 96) and Ratan Dey (ward no. 93) joined hands to raise the National Flag with the strains of 'Jana Gana Mana...' wafting in from the chorus.

The debate: After the customary speeches Ratanbabu departed as he was in a hurry to be elsewhere. Debabratababu stayed longer, and after a thought provoking speech in which he quoted liberally President Kalam's speech the day before, we welcomed a certain section of the community to express their grievance on a particular issue. This was about a house, long uninhabited and in ruins, and the area surrounding it. The place was being used by strangers as a public toilet. Also, the building itself was in an advanced state of degeneration which invariably attracted schoolboys in search of adventure or the first illegal puff. All these were happening smack in the middle of a thickly populated neighbourhood. Nothing could be done officially as the property was subjudice as far as we knew. But life was beginning to get increasingly unbearable for the people living nearby.

After a lot of gesticulations and heated debate, a solution was worked out. The Honorable Councillor promised that he will help remove the filth (which he kept to the 't' - added in Dec 2005). The residents decided to do their bit, employ labourers to put the place in shape, remove weeds and temporarily fence off the area to discourage the casual toilet seeker. In the end everyone was happy. Even though Parivesh Suraksha Committee was not directly involved (some of our members were because they lived in that area), we did play the part of facilitator by providing a platform for some of the residents.

(Added - Dec 2005: The change in that area has been amazing! Now its clean, the lawn well cared for and the dangerous building off limits to thrill and toilet seekers. Kudos to the residents for taking this up on their own. This is the true Parivesh Suraksha spirit. We want people to form their own Parivesh Suraksha Committees, wherever they are living and act both as a pressure group to goad local civic authorities into action as well as act in tandem with the administration to improve the sick environment of their locality. Just as we have done.)

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