Venkaiah Naidu bats for Centre's 'Clean India' initiative

Batting for the Centre's ambitious Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu favoured emulating 'Singapore model' penalty to keep clean the towns and villages, which have been declared open defecation free.

Citing the example of Singapore, where people found littering are fined, the Urban Development minister said a three-pronged approach --change of mindset, creating infrastructure and bringing in legislation to fine people-- was required to keep the cities clean.

"Singapore is a beautiful city. It is also known as fine city. It fines people. Why? First you create infrastructure, create the mindset, then only we can fine the people," he said at the screening of short films titled "Swachh Graha" on Swachh Bharat Abhiyan here.

He said the change of mindset and necessary infrastructure like toilets should be in place to take up such measures in Indian villages and towns, freed from the menace of open defecation.

"Otherwise, if you fine people, they will fine you in the next elections. That is why no politician is venturing to fine people," Naidu said.

He also praised the people and government of Kerala for taking speedy initiatives to make all rural habitations in the state open defecation free (ODF) by November 1.The Union minister said the government's Swachh Bharat Abhiyan programme was slowly taking shape of a people's movement.

The government is hoping to make India open defecation free by 2019.

The programme was also attended by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien and Kerala Minister for Local Administration K T Jaleel.