I am a frequent traveller by train. Apart from my new found pricing privilege as a senior citizen, I have always enjoyed train journeys for the various people I get to meet, the amazing stories I encounter and become a part of and above all, the opportunity to see and experience my country. I love every thing about train journeys, except one – the absolute lack of hygiene either in the trains or the stations!
Peanut Vendor in Train Station. Image: markusminecraft.wordpress.com, Copyright: Adrian Freeman
I love peanuts – except when empty shells are unwittingly hurled at me and all over the compartment by a fellow train passenger. During one my journeys, a lady on the berth beside me was agitated when I suggested she be more careful and respectful. At a movie theatre in Dehradun, I left without watching the movie. The cracking of peanut shells scattered all over the floor was contributing more music than the music I looked forward to hear. With these and several other such encounters, I palpitate at the mere sight of a peanut vendor in a train or a public place.
We live in a city suburb. Taking morning walks amidst the lush greenery and fields should be fun. At least, that’s the general expectation. After taking morning walks for just 2 days, our family visiting from the US gifted us a Treadmill. Defecation in open spaces, the unpleasant experience of navigating the land scape, the lack of dignity and security for women and children had caused distress.
Spitting Paan, Image: The Hindu
While out on the street, there’s as much chance of being red-faced by paan chewers as there is chance of bird-poop landing on the head. In India, the equivalent of New York subway graffiti as a contemporary art form are the stains caused at public places and in buildings by red coloured salivation caused by chewing paan. This practice has almost become an integral part of Indian culture and comically referred to as the “Spit Personality”.
The place I live in has been referred to as the “Venice of the East” for three canals run through the city. The canals are used for irrigation and as a source of drinking water in the villages downstream. Today, the canals are used as dumping ground for waste and sewer, cleaning of motor vehicles, industrial effluents and as public toilets. Similarly in Hyderabad, 80% of untreated sewer is dumped into the city’s lakes and eventually into the main life line, Musi river. The famous Hussain Sagar lake area has shrunk by 40% from it’s original 550 hectares due to encroachments by both private and public agencies over the years. [Source: EPTRI]. While it was originally built as a source of drinking water, it’s not been used for the purpose since 1930. Such is the case for most water bodies across the country.
Canal Pollution, Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar, Image: The Hindu
I dread to imagine the effect on public health and the silting of water bodies on future generations. My repeated efforts to educate locals, mobilise resources and convince local administrators to evolve a scientific waste disposal system have been in vain. Malaria, Dengue, Chikun gunya, Filariasis etc. are spread by mosquitoes. When they recur seasonally, we make a hue and cry but forgot with a decline in intensity. Where are preventive methods for control of mosquitoes, flies and other disease causing organisms – all of which are multiplying for want of hygiene? As the train enters a city, the terrible stench from our water bodies and drains wake up passengers and remind us that we’ve reached our destination. This is unfortunate and needs immediate corrective action.
Our parks, water bodies, public and private places and buildings, transport services and facilities, tourism sites, historic places, streets and cities are in need of immediate attention. More important, is the need for change amongst us. We need to address the problem of creating the mess rather than merely cleaning up after.
Change is happening albeit slowly. Our cities are substantially cleaner than they used to be about a decade ago. The Indian Railways (Penalties for activities affecting cleanliness at Railway premises) Rules 2012 is a step in the right direction.
In addition to strict enforcement of rules, a multi-pronged approach to improve cleanliness is required – it must include education, provision and easy accessibility to waste disposal, technology for mechanised cleaning, award of garbage collection, recycling and disposal contracts and availability of amenities and restrooms at public places.
Efforts by corporates such as adoption of localities, work by anonymous vigilantes such as the Ugly Indians and the collaboration between the Tourism Ministry and Aamir Khan for the Atithi Deva Bhavo campaign are encouraging in our vision to build an Incredible India and restore our pride!
Ugly Indians Clean Drive, Image: Jaagore.com
Education of the masses is the absolute need of the hour. I hope that which ever government stakes claim in 2014 will recognise the importance of health and hygiene and promote education and awareness to establish national pride on a massive scale as was done with the “Jai Jawan. Jai Kisan.” promotion in the 1960s, the “Hum do. Humare do.” population control program in the 1980s and the “Mile Sur Mera Tumhara” program in the 1990s to foster national integration and unity in diversity.
I dream of a “Shudh Bharat. Swasth Bharat.“
