After outrage, Puducherry LG Kiran Bedi withdraws controversial 'no toilet, no rice' order

After huge outrage, and facing  flak from political parties, Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi on Saturday withdrew a controversial announcement threatening to suspend supply of free rice to villagers in the union territory, if the villages failed to get a certificate stating they were open-defecation free and garbage free before May 31.

Earlier in the day, Bedi had said that the territorial government's free rice scheme would be operated in rural areas only after local MLAs and commune panchayat commissioners certify that the hamlets are open defecation free and garbage free by May 31.

Puducherry Chief Minister Narayanaswamy had also slammed Bedi, saying she was meddling with the fundamental rights of Puducherry's residents.

"In Puducherry, most of the rural villages are clean. There are problems in a few villages which we will concentrate upon. For that, the administrator without knowing the implication of the instructions she has given, she is trying to meddle with the rights of the people for which she has no power." said the Chief Minister .

However, withdrawing the order, Bedi said that the intention of her 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. And the department is already in the process of procurement and distribution.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," she said in a statement.

"To avoid misreading of this intention and in view of the forthcoming commitment made by the UT Government that villages in Puducherry will achieve ODF by June end, I am happy to give them some more time. Therefore I am withholding my earlier communications," the statement reads.

Stating that the poor and needy families will be provided their entitlement as per the law made by Central Govt and rules framed by UT Govt, she said, "We are only compelling performance of the community and administrative leadership without denying or compromising the poor of their entitlement. I am here to protect the interest of the poor, their food, health, and environment the uppermost. And they know it. Which is why I have been visiting the rural areas relentlessly, every weekend, for last two years. Sometimes on their invitation and other times on their need basis. Today was the 155 the weekend morning round."

Bedi had also tweeted four pictures of littered neighbourhoods. In the tweet, she wrote, “Linked Free Rice distribution to respective constituency MLAs & Commune Commissioners Certifying villages open defecation free and of strewn garbage and plastic. Free rice reaches out to more than half the population primarily in rural areas This is the learning of morning round today.”

“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,” she noted.

Ever since she became Lt Governor in May 2016, Bedi and the Congress government have been at loggerheads over various issues, including her style of functioning, the swearing-in of three MLAs and medical admissions, among others.

The Madras High Court had upheld the appointment of the three BJP functionaries of the Puducherry unit as nominated members of the House.

They were appointed as nominated members by the Home Ministry through its June 23 2017 order.

They were inducted as nominated members by Lt Governor on July 4 last year, triggering protests by the Congress and its ally, the DMK.