My key priorities as ‘Councillor’ are cleanliness and development – Dinesh Kumar

In an exclusive tete a tete with senior journalist Bipin Sharma (BS), Dinesh Kumar (DK)-first time municipal councillor from Ward no. 79 Madangir enlists some of the recent developmental achievements, the challenges ahead, and the ambitious plantation campaigns that he undertook with his team during this monsoons in different areas.

BS: What have been your key focus areas and accomplishments as the councillor of Madangir?

DK: Undertaking effective preventive measures for keeping a tab on epidemics like Chikungunya, dengue, malaria, giving due importance to the issue of maintaining high standards of cleanliness and hygiene, devoting quality time towards ensuring basic amenities to the primary schools falling under my ward, development of parks and installation of LED Lights have been the key focus areas. Year after year epidemics like malaria and chikungunya continue to wreak havoc on the citizens in our country. Keeping in mind the high incidences of dengue cases being reported from the capital in the last few years, we have been assiduously educating citizens regarding prevention of water stagnation as it is known to lead to breeding of mosquitoes, and subsequently dengue. Keeping dengue virus in check is the collective responsibility of the government authorities as well as the citizens, but ironically some still believe it to be the sole responsibility of the government. In coping with the dengue menace, the citizens have an equally significant role to play by not only keeping their surroundings clean, but also timely reporting the ‘serious lapses’ to their concerned municipal authorities. The healthcare fraternity on the other hand, has a major role to play in ensuring the timely care of patients affected with dengue virus, as well as ridding citizens of wrong notions about dengue. While the responsibility of maintaining external hygiene and sanitation standards rests with the civic agencies, the onus of keeping the household and the surroundings clean, rests with their owners and the family members. We have provided basic sanitation amenities to the citizens, and it takes pride to state that no confirmed case of dengue has so far been reported from ward no 79. I have personally educated people on the perils of storing water in open vessels and tanks. Alongside, I have delivered lectures on safety measures undertaken by our department in coping with dengue in different educational institutions of ward no. 79. This exercise helps in removing myriad preconceived notions about epidemics like malaria, dengue and chikungunya. Our staff has been working overtime in carrying out fumigation drives in different areas of our ward. Insecticides doses are being used in the right proportion and mixtures to yield the desired results. We have a well strategized advance program of both our DBC (Domestic Breeding Checkers) staff as well as A/L (Anti Larval) staff in place in ward no 79, Madangir. With four fumigation machines, we have been catering to the complaints of various localities in the ward. Health Hazards like Dengue can be defeated only with the full fledged support of the pubic, and not just by our working alone. As regards primary school development goes, the most basic issue pertains to providing toilets to school children. How can you expect the child to fare well in the academics if they are being deprived of the basic hygiene facilities in their schools? If the toilet-student ratio of a school is disproportional, the students are bound to feel uneasy, and this will subsequently, have an adverse bearing on their concentration and the overall performance levels. I have instructed authorities to equip schools with fully functional toilets, proportionate to their total student population. Since sporting activities ensure all round development of children, I am working towards providing more playing spaces to school going children.

BS: What are the different areas in your ward?

DK: The areas falling under ward no. 79 are A, B, C, J, K, L blocks of Dakshinpuri along with 18 no. Block. Then there is Madangir-Phase-1, Madangir DDA Flats (1-19 no. Gali), Pushp Vihar (sector 4 & sector 7), Select Citywalk Mall, Metro Enclave and the Saket Court (Staff Quarters).

BS: How important is to involve the citizens in the overall development process?

DK: People’s Power holds the key to the success of any prosperous nation. As numerous challenges need to be dealt with, it becomes imperative for citizens to play some substantial role or the other, besides their day to day occupational activities, in the development of the nation. By doing so, the citizens would not only become actual ‘Bhagidars’ in the development of their locality, city, and nation as a whole, but also ensure the swift execution of the long impending developmental works. The era of blaming the authorities and the government is passe!! Merely having a wait, watch and criticize policy too won’t suffice!! It is time to take the Bhagidari movement to be next level. Citizens have to become activists and crusaders for correcting the lacunas in the existing system.

BS: Share some details about the Plantation drive in full swing

DK: After assuming the councillor’s office, I have gone to different nooks and corners of my ward for initiating plantation drives. The plantation campaign this year specifically has seen an impressive participation of volunteers and citizens from different walks of life. The urgent need is to decrease pollutants and achieve a clean country with healthy citizens. The prime objective of the green drive is to reduce pollution, global warming, and to protect the environment. On a personal note, I have motivated a lot of citizens to plant as many saplings as possible especially since the capital city’s native flora and fauna is on the threshold of extinction. The plantations have to be undertaken keeping in consideration, the prevalent soil conditions. Smart cities are efficient in sustaining its resources. Since ‘sustenance’ is the key factor in ensuring the longevity of the plants, we need to take adequate care of these plants for atleast two seasons. With rising pollution levels and burgeoning number of lifestyle ailments, it has become relevant to plant more and more trees in our surroundings so that there is ample clean and fresh air for all of us to inhale. Safeguarding environment from pollution is everyone’s responsibility. Blame it on our lethargic attitude, or the absence of a proactive RWA in the neighbourhood, that we as local dwellers, have been mere mute spectators to incidents of reckless burning of leaves and garbage in our near surroundings by habitual violators. These are violators who need to be severely taken to task for not just polluting the air quality, but for jeopardizing the well being of countless citizens. Citizens across the length and breadth of the country need to undertake a solemn pledge about not shying away from taking initiatives in matters pertaining to environment and global warming. The collective, and persistent sincere efforts are bound to improve the overall air quality, thereby ensuring a healthy lifestyle for one and all. I am pledged for a lifetime to the cause of reducing air pollution in the environment by planting trees on a regular basis, and by educating those polluting the environment.