New Delhi: Veteran BJP MPs on Friday called for concerted efforts to bridge the "governance deficit" inherited by the present dispensation from the previous UPA regime and suggested measures for good governance that included tackling the problem of open defecation to help make 'Clean India' mission a success.
The MPs including senior leader LK Advani, who were consulted by the party leadership for views on good governance, suggested ways that included generating awareness on the issue to enable people's participation in decision making and accountability.
The measures were sought by the government at the instance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who announced on Tuesday at the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting that former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's birthday would be observed as "Good Governance Day" on December 25.
The two issues of good governance and 'Clean India' were discussed at today's meet of veteran BJP MPs elected to Parliament thrice or more. The meeting attended by 35 MPs is part of the series of such meetings that concluded today.
The BJP veterans have suggested that awareness activities be taken up to sensitise all stakeholders to the need for good governance by organizing camps and workshops in each Assembly constituency with particular involvement of youth.
In his address, Advani described open defecation as "shamful to the nation" and sought measures to address it in all seriousness.
Advani said that for the first time the Atal Behari Government brought the issue of good governance into focus. He also gave details of efforts being made by him to address this issue in his Lok Sabha constituency.
The MPs also said they would be in the forefront of 'Swacch Bharat Mission' in their respective constituencies mobilizing all stakeholders.
Calling for war against open defecation, the MPs suggested that ensuring toilets in schools should be given priority. They said they will take up cleaning up of hospitals, slums and public places and appropriate programmes on December 25.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who chaired the meeting, observed that governance is a process of making decisions and implementing them and such is as old as civilization. He, however, said the need of the hour is good governance.
