Ex-MCG chief in Gurgaon, lends a hand to cleaning drive

GURGAON: Praveen Kumar, former HUDA and MCG chief in the city, might have been in the news for wrong reasons in the past, but on Thursday morning, he surprised shopkeepers in Sadar Bazaar by wielding a broom and cleaning up the streets of the shopping centre along with other safai karamcharis.
Although Kumar is currently the HUDA administrator (HQ) in Panchkula, he chose to do his bit for the Swachh Bharat campaign in Gurgaon."This should not be seen as a one-day campaign but as a daily affair and this is what I have been emphasizing since my time here at the MCG," he said. Kumar said it was one's own duty to ensure that one's surroundings are clean. Kumar's efforts soon became contagious as some shopkeepers came out of their shops, took the broom and dust picker from him and started cleaning up around their own shops. Ram Kumar from Khadi Gramodyog in Sadar Bazaar said, "I have seen the man come here with his demolition team to remove encroachments and today he was cleaning our roads and picking up garbage for us."
However, critics of the former MCG chief claimed the IAS officer was doing this for publicity which he probably misses in Panchkula. Kumar retorted, "This is my hometown where my family lives. I see no shame in doing my bit for my city."
"I am not here in any official capacity but as a citizen and a Gurgaonite. I hope others will understand the concept of dignity of labour and do their bit too," he added.