Cleaning of minds will clean the country – Bezwada Wilson

Cleaning of minds will clean the country – Bezwada Wilson

Manipal: “Cleaning of minds will clean the country. Sweeping the streets for 5 minutes and then sitting in the Prime Minister’s Office cannot be called as Swacch Bharath Abhiyan. Promoting the welfare and rehabilitation of scavengers makes more sense of the movement,” said Magsaysay Award winner Bezwada Wilson after inaugurating the media fest Article 19 organized by School of Communication, Manipal University here on February 8.

Bezwada Wilson further said, “There is an unwillingness to enrolling as scavengers since we have failed to address the problems faced by them in their job. We have developed such a system that a particular caste has to take up scavenging as a profession in their life and it does not end there, their children are also forced to take up the same profession. Untouchability is still persistent in the Indian society in various forms. We have never tried to understand the feelings and agony faced by the scavengers, moreover, we have isolated them. We have to understand that the Constitution is the binding factor of a democracy, it is the constitution which rules and none of us are above the constitution. There is no tradition, language, religion or any other barrier superseding the Constitution of India”, he said.

Bezwada also said, “People who speak about the eradication of reservation should understand the facts of introducing reservation. Reservation was the need of the hour to educate people, since in our country education was limited to a particular caste. Caste based education still exists in our country. Democracy has never reached some of the villages where you can still find people living in groups. The spirit of democracy should be kept alive. If one demands ‘Azadi’ (freedom), he/she is termed as ‘Deshdrohi’ (traitor). These days identity is essential to enter Universities. We should be strong to express our thoughts freely and lead a civilized life to eliminate barriers”.

He stressed that women should be respected in the society. Whenever there are rapes or assaults on women we have failed to understand the pain and the mental stigma they face. Some say that the modesty of the women leads to rape but we have no rights to comment on the dress women wear. They have the right to lead their life as they want and wear whatever dress suits them. If men will comment on women, women too should have the right to comment on men. All should be treated equally for a better society.

The government is planning to introduce bullet trains in the country but when it comes to the introduction of effective implementation of mechanized underground drainage system it falls short on the promise. Some years ago Rs 560 crore was earmarked to rehabilitate women manual scavengers. Last year the amount was reduced to Rs 10 crore and this year it has been yet again reduced to Rs five crore.

SOC Director Nandini Lakshmikantha welcomed the gathering. Fest coordinator Malavika delivered the vote of thanks. Faculty Coordinator Shruthi, Lions Club President Sashi Shetty, Student coordinator Karthik and others were present.