I do not understand why do we have to resort to fearmongering to wake up people from their state of deep ignorance. In my way to the office, I pass through a subway which is full of spitting stains and litter spread across. One day, when I was passing by through it, I found it super clean. No stains or litter - clean as home. Some volunteers did the cleaning. Even I am to be blamed for doing nothing and complaining but these volunteers did the fantastic job. However, in few days the condition deteriorated and it was back to the same old dirty subway.
Then I came across a couple of news articles ( this & this) and found out that by putting pictures of God, people started behaving and maintained cleanliness. Read the below quote from one of these newspapers:
“This is the place where we gather in the evenings to chat… we had noticed people sitting here, eating paan and then spitting right there. But after putting up the tiles, incidents of spitting have gone down by 90%. We scold everyone who litters here, even the nearby tea vendor doesn’t serve tea to people who want to sit here (to avoid any litter),” said Raje, adding that cleanliness is not the government’s job alone.
What do we lack?
If you think uneducated mass is behind all this, then you are wrong. Educated people are equally responsible. What are we doing wrong ?
- There is no sense of responsibility among Indians. When I was in Europe, people owed responsibility for cleanliness themselves and here, I am talking about Indians in Europe. People searched for dustbins to spit/ throw litter. Let’s take responsibility - if not for the country, at least for the nearby area ( 200-300 meters diametrically around your house) . Embarrass people around this limit and make sure, you keep your area clean from stains, litter, and urine.
- Strong laws still cannot help as the population of our country is huge as the law violators outnumber law keepers by a huge margin.
- For few, even God pictures are not going to help. Read this . For such people, embarrassment is the only option left.
- Most of us won’t get into embarrassing people on streets as people violating cleanliness are arrogant, egoistic and feel those advising them need to mind their own business.
What do we have for solution
“Indian organizations found plenty of time and opportunities to lynch people over cow (beef) rumors, but none of them ever came ahead against such blasphemy as spitting and urinating on religious symbols or characters” - PlanetCustodian
- Right wings, left wings, center wings and wingless creatures having considerable political mileage should come up and do the job of “embarrassing” people on streets.
- Resort to fearmongering, showing how dangerous such uncleanliness is
- Join groups like “The Ugly Indian” and volunteer your free time in cleaning streets nearby your area at least.
- The government should heavily fine people spitting, throwing litter and again embarrass them by making them clean the same spit/litter themselves in front of the crowd.
- Media should focus on stories like “The Ugly Indian” rather than focusing on people doing photo-ops only.
- Now as Government is taxing us for Swachh Bharat, I believe Government should spend the money in offering some subsidies to those companies who keep 1 sq km, diametrically ,area outside the office premises clean and tidy.
Can you suggest any more solutions ? Please post them in comments OR Is putting God Pictures across the cities last resort ?