The word ‘Swachhta’ has been in constant use
nowadays because of the initiatives taken by Governments for a better clean
India. The messages of being clean and keep our environment clean have been
spread enough by the existing and past governments through different campaigns.
If consider the reach of these messages, our country 'the Great India' should
be a better clean country when compares it with the same India 20 years back.
Such is the time, fund and human efforts that put for these cleaning missions
every year. The 'Swachh bharath' idea was conveyed to offices (Governments/non-government),
educational institutions, public bodies and governing bodies (from local to the
central government). That means, whole population of 1.3 billion, somehow got
the messages like ''don't litter and don't let others litter''. Now, what is
the outcome of all these? After all these years of campaigns and awareness
celebrations of the greatness of cleanliness, did we achieve the India we aimed
for?
It's true
that on the journey to become a developed nation (still to get there) from the status
of being a developing nation, India sacrificed many of her purity, like many
other nations. To embrace industrialisation, and being the part of the
globalisation, and to grow the economy to new heights, India gave away many of
its green cover and as a result accumulated by-products of above said growth as
waste. Thus, the air, water and soil around us become polluted. At the start of
the race, yes, we were unaware of the adverse consequences of our reckless
actions. We were ignorant that we were creating more wastes than useful
products. But, the environmentalists and scientists woke us up and showed us
the cruelty that we have done to the land, air and water. Many of the foreign
countries took up corrective measures immediately; they developed and followed mid-way
between development and keeping everything clean. India also tried its hands in
being clean. Did we succeed? Let's see.
Many
Indians praise the cleanliness of the other countries after they visit those
and lavish the praise on the natives also, for being and keep clean.
Interestingly, the same Indians follow the waste disposal rules administered by
those governments, and strictly follow the regulations put on by the governments.
But on coming back to India, do these people follow the rules and regulations
applicable here? The foreign countries like Iceland, Sweden and Switzerland
always come first positions in the list of cleanliest countries because they
have not only strict environmental rules and regulations and but also the
citizens who strictly follows them. They consider it as their duties. Being
clean is their way of life. The effect of this cleanliness in those countries
can be seen in their economy, health sector, social indices etc. So, by being
clean they are going forward. And being clean and keeping their air, water and
land clean is not slowing down their growth. This is the greatness of
Cleanliness; that’s what exactly meant by Swachhta Ka Mahatvav.
So, it is
not important that we took a pledge to carry out 100 hours of cleanliness work
every year, but it's important to carry out the cleanliness works. Be it our
house hold, our locality, our transportation modes, our paths, our offices and
where ever we go, it’s our duty not to litter it. Also, Indians can always
follow the footsteps of Gandhi about whom we always boast of; the great man who
cleaned public toilets as a part of his service to the people. When he did it,
he knew the benefit of his action on the society. So yes, we can clean the dirt
put by anybody. The microbes causing diseases do not differentiate between people
who actually created it, helped its growth and people who just nonchalantly watched
it. Diseases can be contracted by anybody. So, it's our duty to clean our
environment, our rivers and ourselves. We shouldn’t be stopping there too; it's our duty to
stop others from littering.
At
present, there are enough technology and management systems available to deal
with the waste of organic and inorganic origin that we produce. Again, our mantra
towards cleanliness should be 'reduce, reuse and recycle'. We need to produce
what we actually need in our life, the reduction in production ultimately lead
to less waste. Reusing things will also cut the production and also lessen the
effluence towards environment which is the by-products of production. Recycling
will enable us to use the once used resource again and thus help in waste management.
So, ultimately minimizing the creation of waste and wiseful management of it
will lead us to a clean India.
But, how much things
are put into practical until now? From our industries and factories, both
gaseous and liquid effluents of toxic effects still emit and which is by
violating all the laws and regulations. The fact is such institutions are
working with permits in our country. Results are polluted air and water which
vehemently affect the health of humans, animals, plants and even monuments.
Governments are banning use of plastics and other harmful materials, but use of
them are still rampant. These non-degradable materials are eating into the
health of citizens. Organic and inorganic wastes accumulated both in land and
water which became breeding houses of antibiotic resistant bacteria’s.
Shockingly, the non-treated wastes from pharmaceutical companies designed new sets
of resistant microbes that can easily endanger the whole life on earth. The
rate of heavy metal content in the water resources are alarming and cause
panic. So far, India is lagging way behind the global standard of treating
wastes both organic and inorganic. Uncontrolled tree falling in the name of development
along with this waste accumulation is turning this country into microwave oven.
Now, let's check
whether we are on track regarding ‘personal hygiene’. The people who appreciate
the cleanliness and hygiene of foreign countries have no reluctance in spitting
public or throwing wastes here. How much percentage of people use dustbins
properly in public places? Public urination and open defecation are still
pandemic in India. India has places where use of toilets is still a taboo. In
The Dark Light Years, Brian W. Aldiss wrote “Civilisation is the distance that
man has placed between himself and his own excreta.” It’s still remaining a mystery
when all Indians assimilate this idea, when we get to know the important of hygiene
in daily life. And things like open defecation is resulting in endemic diseases
spreading.
Indians are
accustomed to the fact even if she or he litter the surrounding, there is no
harm (immediate and visible) can happen to them. The rule of the land is still
so lenient that anybody can throw waste as they wish to the outside or they can
spit in public place without facing any legal action. The beautiful countries
that we visited remain beautiful due to the stringent environmental laws and
their strict implementation. Also, it is the will of citizens to be dutiful to
the nature for keeping it healthy and thus remains healthy themselves.
We should
understand the fact that we have no right to discharge the waste we produce to
outside. It’s personal to manage the wastes produced by us in a proper way. Also,
it is better to understand the cleaning of rivers is necessary not because they
are holy; it is because we polluted those rivers so much so that we don’t have
any clean water resources left for our basic needs. We are responsible for the
garbage accumulated in our environment. The resources we have are not owned by
us. It is our responsibility to keep and maintain it for a better future. On
the existing rate of damage that occurring to our environment, these resources
won’t last much. Clean air, water and land are basic needs of a life to sustain.
Our country
used to be the most beautiful one in the world, thanks to the diverse geology
it has got with. Who changed that to a land of waste, garbage and pollutants?
It’s us. So it’s our duty to clean the dirt we throw all over our mother nation.
Thus we can create a healthy India with healthy citizens. Our health is our
wealth. And the health of a country and its people resides mainly on the
hygiene of the country. That is the greatness of cleanliness. Cleanliness can
make countries great, people great. Being clean and keep the surroundings clean
is not a task to do annually, monthly or fortnightly. Make it the way of life,
and recognize ''Swachhta ka mahatvav'' by being clean ourselves and by maintaining
a clean surrounding. Let’s have our each step towards cleanliness for a clean
healthy vibrant India.
NB: This was written by me on the topic 'Swachhta Ka Mahatvav' for the Special Cleanliness Drive 'Swachhta Pakhwada' celebrations at my office.
