Incidentally, a Swachh Bharat or a Clean India is the dream of not only the Prime Minister but also of each and every Indian irrespective of whether he lives in high-rise building or in a shanty. Life in India minus its filth is unthinkable because we Indians are addicted to dirty habits like chewing paan (betel leaves) or gutkha (a form of tobacco) and spitting the waste in public places. The most attractive places are the corners of staircases or walls.
To have a Swachh Bharat, it is necessary to take strict action against such people who do not hesitate to deface walls that do not belong to them. No amount of issuing messages through the electronic media can change the prevalent culture that has been acquired over the ages. What is necessary is a sort of penalty – like introducing spot fines would be a possible option. That could be a deterrent.
Another glittering example is the Indian culture of defecating in the open – film actress Vidya Balan is trying her level best to pass on a message of that every household should have toilets for women and girls instead of directing them to go to the fields. Here again, meagre messages would not be enough. Promises have been made by Corporate Houses to get involved in making toilets for women especially in girls’ schools under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. Commitments have reportedly been made by NTPC, TCS, Toyota Kirloskar, Bharti Foundation and Ambuja Cements for construction of toilets. These, if and when translated into reality, would be a great boon.
In this context, it is worthwhile to note that as per the 2011 Census, only 32.70 per cent of rural households had access to toilets. According to a UN report released this year, India continues to have the largest number of people in the world defecating in the open.
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