It may not be a phenomenon that is hitting the headlines hard enough to draw attention but it has great significance in terms of improvement in living conditions. Reports are increasing about communities of various kinds – social, religious, colony residents, school and college students, etc., coming together to clean up garbage left behind after gatherings of various kinds. This a spontaneous response resulting from greater awareness and a sense of responsibility. It seems the people are now understanding that there is more to quality of life than just personal advancement. Also, that they have a stake in the general improvement of conditions in their immediate vicinity.
There is no doubt that social media has had a role to play in this enhanced awareness. The video clips and comments about what people leave behind after picnics, wedding parties and other gatherings does make viewers feel ashamed, knowing that those committing such acts are from among them – not some aliens from another planet. Also, there are many examples visible of how people around the world take responsibility for community property – be it cleaning up after a sports event in a stadium, or the streets and parks near where they live or work. The Japanese, in particular, set a shining example in this regard.
The growth in this attitude in India also implies that people are realising that cleaning up is not just the job of the sanitation workers, that self-respect has a lot to do with taking responsibility. Obviously, this practice should not just be left to the media to promote. It should be turned into an even stronger movement by instilling good habits from childhood itself. Schools, colleges, every group or association related to specific activities should include stress on hygiene, sweeping and waste management as a basic foundation. Within communities, instead of adopting a confrontationist approach, habitual offenders should be persuaded through example and incentives to play their role in ensuring a clean environment.
This is all the more necessary in the cities, towns and villages of Uttarakhand where pilgrims and tourists arrive in the millions for a brief stay, leaving behind large amounts of litter. Also, those who serve their needs such as food and various disposable articles contribute to the mountains of garbage. People coming together to help municipal workers in clearing the ghats, the roadsides, etc., can contribute greatly to a pure and aesthetically pleasing environment that will reflect the true nature of the mountains and valleys for the benefit of all.
