Lack of cleanliness a blot on country, says Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar

Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Friday underlined the need for a "clean India", saying the lack of cleanliness is a blot on the country.

"What is this patriotism which allows you to litter? True patriotism will be to ensure a clean and beautiful India," she said, speaking at the 18th Rajendra Prasad Memorial Lecture here.

"When Indians go abroad they do not litter but when in India, they litter because there is always someone to clean it. This is because the caste system in our culture has assigned the task of cleaning to a particular group of people," the former speaker said.

Kumar, who was minister of Social Justice and Empowerment in the UPA-I government, also called for uplifting those involved in cleaning jobs. Speaking on the occasion, Sulabh International founder Bindeshwar Pathak said caste-based discrimination can be eliminated only through non-violence.

"Sulabh is a protest movement against social order. We aim to address the black spots in our culture -- caste disparity through non-violent means," the social activist said. 

Recounting his childhood days which had an impact on his life as a sanitation campaigner, Pathak said, "Born in a well-off family, I grew up in a house which had every facility but a toilet.

Women had to wake up early and defecate in the fields. My memory of a toilet was a 'service latrine' used by the village zamindar which used to be cleaned by an untouchable woman."
The lecture was organised by Rajendra Prasad Academy.