Kiran Bedi Retracts Direction Linking Free Rice to Clean Villages

Bedi earlier said rice distribution would be halted by 31 May unless the villages were free of open-defecation.

Hours after coming under fire for having announced that villages in the Puducherry Union Territory would not be allowed to avail free rice unless they were declared free of open-defecation and garbage, Lt Governor Kiran Bedi said that her statement had been misread, and that she was "withholding her earlier communication".

In a fresh statement released on Saturday, 28 April, Bedi said:

The intention of my direction in linking rural Open Defecation and cleanliness with free rice distribution is NOT To DENY any poor persons of their entitlement, since I have already sanctioned and directed to provide quality food grains to needy families. The communication under comment is an expression of my serious intent and concern about addressing the root causes of health hazards in rural areas and compel performance of community and administrative leadership (sic).  

Adding that she was withholding her earlier communication, Bedi said that her administration was attempting to "compel performance" without denying or compromising the poor of their entitlement.

Bedi’s earlier announcement reportedly came after the former IPS Officer travelled to Puducherry’s Mannadipet village, and was reportedly distraught at the state of sanitation in the area.

As reported by The Indian Express, Bedi had released a statement instructing that the “distribution of the free rice shall be conditional to the certification of the village being open defecation free and free of strewn garbage and plastics by submitting a joint certificate given by the MLA and the Commune Commissioner to the Civil Supplies Commissioner”.

The report states that Bedi has set a deadline of four weeks for the villagers to become free of open defecation and garbage. If they failed to do so, the distribution of free rice would be halted from 31 May.

Linked Free Rice distribution to respective constituency MLAs & Commune Commisioners Certifying villages open defecation free and of strewn garbage and plastic.
Free Rice reaches out to more than half d population primarily in rural areas
This is d learning of morning round today pic.twitter.com/CCIaVAGdDT

— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) April 28, 2018

I am very anguished at the slow pace of rural sanitation. Last two years, I have not seen local representatives and concerned public officials determined to make rural Puducherry clean within a time frame. I am sorry this cannot go on (sic).

Kiran Bedi in the press release, as reported by The Indian Express

“I am sure the community leaders including concerned public servants will take the lead in this transformation. I also urge the NABARD to support only NGO who has inbuilt waste management as integral part of its training programs (sic)”.

As reported by The Times of India, V Narayanasamy, Chief Minister of Puducherry has dismissed Bedi's order, calling it "unconstitutional".

Social Media Reacts

Bedi’s announcement garnered heavy criticism on social media:

This is Illogical it is the duty of the government to keep the villages clean. Instead punishing the poor doesn't make any sense. It proves that she doesn't have undergone the pain of a common man.

— Rajkumar (@rajkumarcool) April 28, 2018

The Hon'ble Governor seems to have forgotten that PDS is not a charity that can have caveats attached to it, it's a constitutional duty owed to the citizens. Although if this is the logic that'll work now, why not allow citizens to put caveats on tax payments too?

— Prashant Khurana (@prashantk94) April 28, 2018

Mam, apparently this order is at haste with out application of mind, hence bound to fell flat. Yes, incentive can be subjective, but need to be realistic and logical to sustain. There are ways to implement, only if duly thought. Above all there is an elected government in place.

— Ravi Nair (@RavinairPvp) April 28, 2018

Madam, this is your own Delhi where you have born and bought up! Don't blame @ArvindKejriwal for this because it's the responsibility of BJP ruled MCD. Please clean your backyard first. Jai Hind. pic.twitter.com/dYoBtLUMiq

— Nazeer Adil (@Nazeeradil) April 28, 2018

Will you also stop eating rice after May 31 if it doesn’t become clean? Share accountability.

— Dinesh Kannan (@KDineshKannan) April 28, 2018

(With inputs from The Indian Express and The Times of India)

(This copy has been updated to reflect Bedi’s clarification)

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