Culture of cleanliness

It has been more than ten years since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014, and one of his early calls to action was the launch of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission). The initiative was aimed to see that there is no open defecation, reduce litter, and bring the country a culture of cleanliness across streets, lanes, and public spaces.

The message was clear: a cleaner India is a matter of public health and national pride. The campaign generated significant enthusiasm, with people from all walks of life, including celebrities and political leaders, taking part in cleaning drives. While there have been some visible improvements. For example, Delhi now has mechanised garbage collection, and most open garbage vans are covered. Garbage vans go to the residential colonies and collect household garbage.

However, the reality on the ground still paints a mixed picture. Despite the visible efforts, waste continues to litter streets in many of the states and union territories, drainage systems remain old demanding a rebuilt or complete repair as we find these drains in old towns are choked with an increase in urban population as well as infrastructure, and footpaths are encroached upon by vendors and filth.

A Daily Walk Through the Dirt

As a resident of West Delhi’s Rajouri Garden, my daily morning walk offers a snapshot of this problem. Exiting the gated society, I pass by a small yet busy religious place. It attracts many devotees. Just opposite the religious place, there are fruit vendors and every day several devotees generously donate food to the needy. However, the aftermath of this charitable act is less than heartening. Disposable plates, cups, and leftover food items are discarded indiscriminately on the roadside.

Despite multiple requests by the local organisers to the same devotees who wait for hours in queues to have the food, they hardly follow the rule of disposing of their leftover disposable plates into the dustbins, which are always there on nearby footpaths and streets. It is like people who wait for hours to have the food but do not want to waste their half a minute to properly dispose of the empty plates. The problem persists.

I walk towards a nearby District Park and notice a line of bustling tea stalls and food carts. The vendors are busy, serving hot tea and snacks to early risers. However, their waste disposal practices remain dismal. Crushed paper cups, plastic plates, and other debris cover the pavement. The drain running underneath, meant for rainwater, is choked with polythene bags and food waste. Cows munch on the leftover food, but I shudder to think how much plastic they unintentionally consume. These are not an isolated observation but a reflection of what many residents experience in different parts of Delhi and other States of the country.

Despite the visibility of the Swachh Bharat campaign and the substantial budget allocated to it, the outcomes on the ground appear inconsistent. We all have seen images of the Prime Minister himself who has often set an example by picking up litter during public appearances. Yet, why do we as citizens of this country not see the same level of commitment from the local authorities or the public?

Here are some critical factors contributing to this disparity:

In many neighbourhoods and markets, dustbins are either missing or insufficient. If there is no place to dispose of trash, people unavoidably will litter. For example, public trash bins are readily available and regularly emptied in countries like Japan and Singapore, thus maintaining a clean environment. Until authorities make sure that the salaried employees who are supposed to maintain strict sanitary conditions in public places and are paid a good salary for the same should be available on the site not only campaigning but also warning those violating the law.

Secondly, while mechanised garbage collection has been introduced, the process is far from efficient. We see garbage often being accumulated in open areas before being transported to landfill sites. In contrast, cities like Seoul and Copenhagen have adopted comprehensive waste management systems, where waste is sorted at source, and recycling is mandatory. Here, staff handling the garbage hardly use mechanised methods and use their hands, and they are hardly seen wearing gloves, masks, or even proper dresses while collecting or segregating the garbage.

The third essential and significant part of the problem lies in the public’s attitude. Many people, despite being educated, still discard waste in open areas. There is a persistent mindset that cleanliness is the government’s responsibility alone and not of the public. Changing this mindset is challenging but possible, as seen in cities like Kigali, Rwanda, where public cleanliness is a source of national pride, and citizens actively participate in a monthly exercise of cleaning up their surroundings. In addition, some attractive awards and recognitions are decorated to the citizens, creating a people-friendly system.

Way Forward

Here are some global examples and actionable suggestions:

Incorporate Education and Awareness from a Young Age: In countries like Sweden, and Norway, environmental education starts from school classes quite early. Schools integrate lessons on recycling, waste management, and practically showcasing to young minds the importance of a clean environment. We can adopt a similar model in India, where cleanliness education starts at the nursery level. Schools can introduce competitions and awards for the cleanest classes or students actively participating in keeping their surroundings tidy.

Mandatory Dustbins in Vehicles: A practical step would be to mandate that all vehicles, both private and commercial, have small dustbins. This practice is already in place in parts of Germany, and Sydney where fines are imposed for littering from vehicles. Dustbins could be placed in parking lots and popular public spots for easy disposal.

Community Involvement and Ownership: In Japan, local communities take responsibility for cleaning their neighbourhoods. For example, the concept of ‘gomi zero’ (zero waste) drives neighbourhood cleaning events. Here, residents are encouraged to separate their waste and keep their surrounding areas neat and clean. Cannot we match a similar model by organising monthly cleanup drives at the neighbourhood level? Residents, schoolchildren, and local businesses can come together for these drives, building a sense of community ownership.

Infrastructure needs Enhancement: Big Cities like San Francisco and Geneva have implemented efficient waste collection systems, with separate bins for compost, recyclables, and landfill waste. We must adopt a similar strategy in Indian cities, ensuring ample bins are available on streets and in public places and emptied every few hours. It should not only be seen in airports or high-end buildings but at common places. And above all, the bins must be regularly emptied and maintained by concerned authorities.

Technology for Monitoring: Now technology is cheap and easily available, For example in Singapore, the use of surveillance cameras in public areas helps monitor cleanliness and discourage littering. In India, municipalities like traffic police could use technology to track waste collection and monitor public areas for littering. This data can then be used to identify problem areas and take corrective action.

Penalties and Fines: The success of cleanliness in many developed countries can be attributed to stringent penalties for littering. In New York, and Singapore cities, for instance, fines for littering can go up to $300. Similarly, India could implement stricter fines as token money to begin with for littering, with local authorities empowered to enforce them. The fines collected could be reinvested into maintaining cleanliness in the area.

Empower Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Community Groups: NGOs, shopkeepers associations and residents’ welfare associations have played an energetic role in raising awareness and organising cleanup drives. However, their reach is limited. Local government bodies should collaborate more actively with such organisations who are always present at ground zero, offering and encouraging them with a token amount of needed funds and in some cases resources to expand their result-orientated activities. Engaging with schools, colleges, shopkeepers and resident welfare associations can multiply the impact of not only the cleanliness drive but also campaigning to the general masses who visit or live in the surrounding areas.

Changing the Mindset: The fundamental issue lies not just in the execution of cleanliness drives but in our cultural mindset that needs an improvement of turning cleanness as a habit rather than a compulsion. In many European countries, the culture of cleanliness is ingrained in everyday life. People do not need reminders or campaigns to keep their surroundings clean. It is a habit. Here, in different cities, to achieve similar success, a mindset is necessary. If we can keep our houses and homes clean, why not the surroundings? An old saying, that charity began at home. This change must start at the grassroots level, involving schools, local communities, and even business houses.

One innovative approach will be to involve the community at all levels by launching a nationwide campaign where citizens dedicate the last Saturday of each month to community service, often focused on cleaning and infrastructure maintenance.

The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has certainly laid the groundwork for a cleaner India, and improvements are visible. If we want to see the campaign to further achieve its goal, there needs to be a concerted effort from all stakeholders. it should include government bodies, private businesses, educational institutions, and citizens.

The government must continue to build infrastructure, enforce stricter regulations, and promote public awareness. But equally important is the role of individuals and communities in taking responsibility for their surroundings.

Finally, it is about cultivating a culture in our society, how to change the mindset to bring cleanliness, respect for public spaces, and environmental consciousness amongst our vibrant society.

If we genuinely want to honour the Prime Minister’s vision of a Swachh Bharat, it must become a shared mission, where every citizen plays an active role. The question is not whether the campaign will succeed but whether we, as a nation, are willing to change our habits and take ownership of our environment. Only then can we hope to see an immaculate and vibrant India.

Author is National Editor, Greater Kashmir.