Traders selling indigenous goods must display Swadeshi board: Vij

Cabinet Minister Anil Vij today called upon residents, traders and public representatives not to confine cleanliness to their homes, but also decorate whole city during the upcoming Diwali festival.

Vij said this while presiding over a review meeting at the SDM Office, convened to assess cleanliness arrangements before Diwali.

The minister urged all participants to ensure that this Diwali, Ambala should present itself as a clean, attractive and vibrant city.

He said while the Municipal Council (MC) was carrying out necessary works, public participation was vital to accelerate the Swachhata Abhiyan.

Highlighting the importance of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, Vij said every citizen must contribute to promote indigenous products. “Shopkeepers selling entirely Swadeshi (indigenous) goods should proudly display a Swadeshi board outside their shops. Similarly, those selling products with the zero GST may also display appropriate boards. Such steps will help strengthen the ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign,” he said.

Vij directed the Ambala Sadar Municipal Council to ensure full and effective implementation of the Swachhata app. “Residents can download the app on their mobile phones and upload photographs and location details to register complaints related to cleanliness, garbage collection, or streetlight repair,” he said. He further instructed officials to maintain proper sanitation in public toilets and to form area-wise backup teams to monitor the app and ensure immediate action on any complaint received.

The minister asked all market associations and shopkeepers to ensure smooth access for customers during Diwali shopping. “No shopkeeper should place goods outside his/her shop under the pretext of the festival, as this causes congestion and obstructs vehicular and pedestrian movement,” he said.

During the meeting, Vij also issued instructions related to managing stray cattle, repair of streetlights and holding cleanliness drives.

Upon learning that some market areas had non-functional streetlights, the minister instructed officials to ensure immediate repair of all street and decorative lights. He also directed to launch cleaning operations in colonies near the Tangri River, from where issues of waterlogging and waste accumulation were reported.

Vij appealed to market associations to appoint two to three workers in each area to monitor cleanliness operations and ensure regular attendance of the sanitation staff. He said such review meetings would be held periodically to evaluate progress and improve implementation of government schemes and orders.

Ambala Cantonment SDM Vinesh Kumar, Municipal Council Chairperson Swarn Kaur, Vice Chairperson Lalita Prasad, Executive Officer Devender Narwal, councillors, officials and representatives from various market and resident welfare associations attended the meeting and shared their views.