DEMANDS TO TEERMINATE CONTRACT OF NEGLIGENT NGO

DEMANDS TO TEERMINATE CONTRACT OF NEGLIGENT NGO

27-OCT-ENG 14

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA------------------------------The current state of sanitation in the Shahpur Nagar Panchayat has become a serious cause for concern. A non-governmental organization (NGO) was entrusted with the vital responsibility of keeping the town clean, beautiful, and hygienic; however, it has proven to be a complete failure on the ground. The agency has faltered in managing the town's cleanliness, leading to widespread dissatisfaction among local residents.

According to reports, the NGO in question does not even have a physical office within the Shahpur Nagar Panchayat area, which raises significant questions regarding its operational methods and transparency. Alarmingly, the agency continues to collect a substantial monthly sum from the Nagar Panchayat for sanitation services—despite performing no meaningful work—leaving the town's residents with nothing but disappointment. Streets are not being swept, and due to a severe shortage of sanitation staff, workers are seen only in a few select, specific locations. Furthermore, the biometric attendance system—intended to ensure transparency—exists only on paper and is not being implemented in reality.

According to Executive Officer Shubham Kumar, the current agency, which has been operational since June 1, 2026, is named 'Kumar Abhishek.' Its supervisor is Shailesh Gupta, and its registered address is listed as Vashishth Nagar, Ara. It is worth noting that prior to this, the responsibility for sanitation in the town rested with an NGO called 'Pratap Seva Sankalp,' which had been assigned the task under a contract comprising twenty-eight specific conditions. For these services, the Nagar Panchayat used to pay that NGO a significant monthly sum of 1,187,882 rupees. However, the previous NGO was blacklisted due to unsatisfactory performance and failure to fulfill its responsibilities. Given this, the public is increasingly questioning why the Shahpur Nagar Panchayat administration continues to show such favor toward the current NGO—run by an individual named Kumar Abhishek—despite its extremely poor performance. Previously, the department’s own sanitation efforts were superior, and at a cost of less than 4 lakh rupees.

The required tasks primarily include: regular water sprinkling on roads; desilting of all drains (large and small) and proper disposal of the silt; door-to-door collection of wet and dry waste; source-segregation of waste; transportation of waste to composting pits and Material Recovery Facilities (MRF); disposal of non-recyclable waste at landfill sites; smooth operation of composting pits, machinery, and MRF centers; application of bleaching powder and sanitization as needed; and the safe disposal of dead animals and birds.

Ironically, however, none of these tasks are being carried out effectively on the ground. Many drains in the town remain clogged; waste collection is frequently delayed due to faulty vehicles; and the lack of bleaching powder or sanitization measures has created an ever-present risk of disease.

Furthermore, the guidelines set by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) regarding environmental protection and the preservation of water sources are being openly flouted. NGT regulations concerning the cleaning of local rivers and ponds are being completely ignored, causing severe damage to aquatic life and the environment.

The state of labor laws and the rights of sanitation workers is also truly deplorable. Contrary to the rules, no official list of sanitation workers has been provided, nor have these workers been supplied with personal protective equipment (PPE)—such as standard uniforms, footwear, gloves, hand sanitizers, masks, or identification cards. Compelling individuals to work without such protective equipment also constitutes a violation of human rights.

Meanwhile, several social activists—including former chairman Vijay Kumar Singh, Azad Gupta, Vinay Mishra, and Rakesh Yadav—have urged the Shahpur Nagar Panchayat administration to take serious note of this matter. They have called for an end to mere "paperwork" (superficial compliance) and have demanded that officials conduct surprise, on-the-ground inspections. They further urged that strict action be taken against the negligent NGO, including the termination of its contract, and that an accountable system be established—prioritizing the town's cleanliness—to ensure a clean and healthy environment for the residents of Shahpur.