We, the solution

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:

http://swachhindia.ndtv.com/

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.

Swachch Bharat! My clean India

I am often tagged teasingly by my friends and peers as "The Environmentalist" due to my commitment to ensure proper hygeine, my efforts to combat littering and ensure proper disposals in my presence. It is all in good fun and it never hinders me from my commitment, because I know I am right. I am determined, because I love my nation.

From infancy we are taught that cleanliness is second to Godliness. We are trained to not only to keep our body, mind, manners and books clean, but our surroundings and the entire eco-system as well.

As children we are given lectures about the importance of hygiene and the hazards of litter. Rewards and punishments were used to enhance this message and imbibe in us such healthy and good habits. Whenever we made an effort at cleanliness we were given accolades and rewarded little medals and candies; whenever we were caught erring, like unpolished shoes, dirty unclipped nails, littering the school-premises, etc, we were made to stand dunce outside classrooms and scolded before in front of our peers to ensure such acts would not be repeated.

But, as we grew up reality was far from the innocent lessons we were taught as kids. There is little resemblance to it with the public en-masse. Furthermore, we see how little others care, and at least think about it. Consequently, we wonder, "What the heck does it matter? Why should we continue picking up after others? Who cares? What difference does it make anyway? How can I alone change the world?"

And we too joined the crowd.

What we fail to realise is that WE CAN BE THE CHANGE. If we would do our bit, encourage our companions to do the same, and try to persuade our neighbours like-wise, we can make a difference. If we show that we care, those who look up to us will care too. If we don’t follow the crowd, and do our tiny bit, each and everyone of us, we can rectify the situation.

It is really strange if we think about it. We cannot bear to hold on to a chocolate wrapper, an empty packet of chips or cookies, fruit-peels or a soiled tissue cloth until we find a waste bin and simply discard it on the spot. But, we don’t mind walking through or driving past the same litter on the streets.

When the same litter accumulates near our homes; or is strewn in our court-yards by the winter breeze and clogs our drains; when the same litter emits foul odours during summer and causes flooding of rain-water during monsoons; when the same litter causes pollution and breeds air/water-borne diseases and food-infestations, we raise hell and blame everyone except ourselves. We refuse to see that we are the cause of all these evils.

We are being redeemed for our own mistakes! If we had not littered in the first place, none of these problems would have occurred?

To make our India really clean and beautiful, we need to clean our thought-process first and become children at heart once again. We must do what we did as children to keep ourselves, our homes and our surroundings clean, with the same diligence, zeal and belief.

Also do use proper urinals and public toilets. Do not spit on the streets,

Maintain personal care and hygeine to avoid all illnesses.

Separate your garbage according to Government guidelines.

Recycle.

The erring habits are really nasty and shameful for a civilized soceity and following the aforementioned points is really healthy and easy.

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:

http://swachhindia.ndtv.com/