Whenever we think of the terms dirty, unhygienic or low standards of living the image we get in our minds is of slums and forsaken lands now used as garbage yards, where people have no sophistication in behaviourism, and live a crude and rustic life.
I agree these areas do need reformative measures and awareness of personal hygiene and sanitation on a large scale. But are areas outside these slums in cities and towns free from such menaces?
In the very heart of such big dream cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, etc the truth is far from being anything dream-like. Take a fleeting look at their bustling market areas, heavy traffic points, bus stations, railway junctions (even railway tracks), street corners and harbours. Everywhere you find packets of wastes, strewn garbages, open drainages, walls and side-walks sprayed with spits and nauseous fluids.
Then we cry hoarse over the increasing pollution, deadly diseases and disease-bearing insects and bacterias, lose of immunity, and lack of preventive and remedial measures.
Without accepting that we are the problem. We allow such bad habits to foster by silently overlooking them, by slackening our own habits over simple excuses and contributing to the increasing litter directly or unknowingly.
The other day one early afternoon as I was returning home attending a quick errand with my mother, we noticed a little toddler in his uniform relieving himself at a street corner his mother standing vigil behind him. The deed, though not in a good stride, was not so prominent as it is an usual occurrence in every city, town and village in India. But actually shocked us was after the child was done, they both very leisurely strolled to their home just across the street.
We just couldn't comprehend why on earth the mother couldn't rush the child a few more steps to the home instead of letting him defacate just across the street? Is public hygiene and proper sanitation measures only a myth? Or public and personal health so available to be taken for granted?
It is just not the story of a single mother-child pair. It is not even the plight of only those rural areas where proper urinals and hygiene standards are not available. How many amongst us Indians can claim to have never been a witness to such acts?
It is so true healthy sanitation habits and hygiene begins at home. It is our duty to teach our children proper cleanliness and hygiene, and also set proper example, for them to follow and for our own good.
It's really simple yet effective everyday tasks. Like,
-Recall what we learnt as children.
-Follow what we preach.
-Believe in what we teach.
-Use hand sanitisers and encourage others too.
-Use effective disinfectants.
-Do not litter around.
-Do not spit on streets and pavements.
-Use polythene bags if nauseous.
-Discard waste according to government guidelines.
-Recycle.
- Join Mr. Amitabh Bachchan and like-minded individuals in the Banega Swachh India campaign initiated by NDTV network and Dettol India by visiting the link here:
Do not discard the obvious into oblivion. We can be the change. Laziness can be lethal sometimes.
Wake up. It is our nation and our responsibility.
It is something important to notice and do something about. For without hygiene, there is illness and potentially worse. <3
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