New Delhi: After
surprise checks at two post offices in New Delhi, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar
Prasad on Sunday pulled up officials of the Department of Posts for not keeping
their premises and work space clean.
"Despite instructions
from Prime Minister's Office, your premises are not clean. Take it as my
direction that I want all post offices across country to be clean," he
told senior DoP officials.
The Minister inspected work
space at Gol Dak Khana and Lodhi Road post offices. Prasad inspected almirah
and different rooms where he found dust on many files and racks.
He asked officials to keep the
premises clean and make Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Swachh Bharat Mission
a success.
Member, Postal Board, Anjali
Devasher said that DoP started cleanliness drive and complete status report
will be handed over to the minister in a month.
Senior officials at post
offices said DoP had sought fund of about Rs 10 crore for civil work and cleanliness
but it has been allocated only around Rs 3.5 crore which is too less.
"We have part time
workers for cleaning work ... The structure of building are such that dust and
dirt keep coming in to offices. We need funds to make buildings dust
proof," an official said.
Ministry sources however said
that Post Office staff have raised the issue of fund shortage only after
minister's surprise visit.
Earlier in the day, Prasad ran
cleanliness drive at Sanchar Bhawan where he found rubbish heaped at one place.
"I have announced that I
will go to clean Patna Railway Station on 2 October. Union ministers will also
go on cleanliness drive. Even Prime Minister himself will got to clean Valmiki
basti near Birla Mandir. When the Prime Minister and Ministers can do this, you
should not feel ashamed of it," Prasad said at Sanchar Bhawan.
He cited the example of
cleanliness in metro and all government offices should be cleaned in a similar
fashion.
"Below this place is
metro station, where there is no dirt. The same people use it, the same is the Government. I feel that while travelling in metro, people themselves feel
ashamed that it is so clean and how can we dirty it," Prasad said.
The Minister appealed
government officials to change in their mind.
"You would have known that
I am a strict Minister. I work and expect work from you all as well. I will
make surprise visit to your offices as well," Prasad said at Sanchar
Bhawan.
PTI
