Shocking remark: Go and sell your wife, says Aurangabad DM Kanwal Tanuj on toilet query about Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
DM Kanwal Tanuj had gone to meet the villagers in Aurangabad district to spread awareness about building toilets and to tell them why open defecation was bad for everyone.
HIGHLIGHTS
- 1DM of Aurangabad asks poor villager to sell his wife if he can’t build a toilet at home.
- 2Kanwal Tanuj, the DM, tried to link toilet with the dignity of women.
- 3He has stirred a controversy with his uncharitable remarks.
Apparently on a drive to promote Swachh Bharat campaign (Clean India drive), district magistrate of Bihar‘s Aurangabad Kanwal Tanuj ended up telling a poor villager that if he did not have money to build a toilet at home, he should sell his wife.
DM Kanwal Tanuj had gone to meet the villagers in Aurangabad district to spread awareness about building toilets and to tell them why open defecation was bad for everyone. But, he stirred a huge controversy with his uncharitable remarks.
In a video released by news agency ANI, the official was heard asking the gathering “Is there any man who would tell me that take the dignity of my wife and give me Rs 12,000? Is there anyone like that?” On this, when a villager said that he did not have enough money to build a toilet at home, Tanuj said he should then sell his wife.
In a 32 seconds video, the official was clearly shown irked by the villager’s reply, which was, “I do not have the money to build a toilet.” Replying to which, DM said, “I will talk to you.” But when the villager repeated the same thing, he shouted,”If that is the case then go and sell your wife.” He did not stop here and further said, “If this is the mentality then go and auction the dignity of your home and tell the government you will not be able to construct a toilet,” said DM Tanuj. So many people talk about advance payment, they get the advance and then spend it on useless things, added Tanuj in the gathering.
The DM was seen addressing a gathering at a village in the district where he tried to link toilet with the dignity of women. He said, “Save the dignity of your women if you can. How poor are you? Raise your hands and tell me if the value of your wife is lower than Rs 12,000. Listen to me first. Don’t raise your hands.”
Then Kanwal Tanuj said, “Which man would say that take the dignity of my wife and give me Rs 12,000? Is there anyone like that?”
Responding to his open queries thrown at the villagers, one from the audience said that he did not have enough money to build a toilet at home. “Sir, I don’t have the money to build a toilet,” the man said.DM Kanwal Tanuj responded by saying, “I will talk to you. If that is the case then go and sell your wife. If this is the mentality you have then go and sell your wife. So many people talk about advance payment, they get advance and then spend it on useless things. ”
In Septmber, 2016 Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had launched two schemes as part of his Saat Nishchay or Seven Resolves of state government. The schemes were Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal and Shauchalay Nirman, Ghar Ka Sammaan.
The schemes were part of larger Clean India drive. The schemes were cover all towns and villages of the state by the end of 2019.
Under the Shauchalay Nirman, Ghar Ka Sammaan, a beneficiary is given an aid of Rs 12,000 by the state government for building toilets to end open defecation. DM Kanwal Tanuj was addressing the gathering about the same scheme.
http://www.news18.com/news/india/aurangabad-dms-advice-to-villager-sell-your-wife-if-you-cant-build-toilet-1470269.html
July 25, 2017 at 10:19 pm
The statement is not only humiluating women but also exposing male hegemony. The person should apologise