Let's change,NOW!

Channel-surfing one lazy evening, sitting snug on my couch, I chanced on History Channel’s Mega Structure. What was initially intended to be a short diversion kept me mesmerised over the hour-long programme. Touring vicariously through Kansai International Airport, the world’s largest airport on a man-made island two miles off the coast of Osaka, was sheer delight. The world’s most striking airport, a single, sunlight filled tube with a supersize airplane fuselage that stretches more than a mile is often referred to as a city, I heard in disbelief, the rich baritone voice of the programme’s anchor through my television speakers. I recall thinking to myself that this is impossible.
A few years have since passed and I must confess that much of the scintillating show that I viewed is now a pale memory in my middle-aged mind. Yet, the one factor that remains etched in my recollection is the philosophy that inspired the Japanese government to conceive the idea of an airport in the sea.

“The airport is the first and the last place visitors encounter while in Japan and it ought to have a lasting effect on the traveller,” the authorities conjured up in their heads. The unbelievable outcome was the $20 billion mega airport that in 2001 was given the Civil Engineering Monument of the Millennium award by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Clearly, not all economies in the world can afford to construct such mega structures just to impress its tourists and air passengers. More so, developing countries with other pressing agendas in the basic sectors of education, health care, employment and infrastructure cannot even remotely entertain such ideas. So that leaves us with a basic question: Can countries sans mighty skyscrapers and extravagant airports ever hope to make any impression on its tourists and foreigners? Why not, I should think. After all, how many of us, after a trip to America or Europe, dwell on Grand Canyon or the Eiffel Tower? But can anyone among us, post a foreign trip, keep from raving about how clean the roads were or what a wonderful sight the public parks beheld? Can we stop talking about the blue sky, the unpolluted air and the sweet fragrance of the surroundings? Did not the city, just by its cleanliness and order, make an impression in us as we walked carefree in the sidewalks and boulevards of the city, basking in the beauty of the colours of the landscape?

Well then, here we have it, not as I think but as the majority would vouch. Much and lasting impression in the minds of visitors can indeed be made just by a setting of clean roads, sanitised side-walks, accessible trash cans, hygienic public toilets, uncontaminated parks, germ-free air, unpolluted water bodies, some green canopy and refreshing lung space. 

Significance of the environment
The environment of a country echoes the civilisation, culture and ethos of its people. It reflects, among other factors, the educational levels and refinements of its citizens. The psychology, preferences and priorities of the masses are spilt into the vast expanse of the environs of a country. The manner in which personal lives are conducted gets mirrored into the environment of a nation. “Do not judge a book by its cover,” becomes an exception when it comes to deciding the health of an economy by the physical appearances of its surroundings. “All that glitters is indeed gold”, to a nation which can take pride in its sparkling neighbourhoods and pristine surroundings.

Environments also reveal the character and effectiveness of the leaders of a nation. The laws in force, the moral fibre of the public authorities who are custodians of these laws, the overall outlook of the citizens in embracing and abiding by the code of conduct expected by the law of the land and the lax in charging penalty to offenders, collectively leave a tell-tale on the environment of a free economy.

The environment, therefore, becomes a significant indicator of a country’s social standing, financial status, literacy levels, general civic climate, living conditions and much more. It is a comprehensive reflection of the health and vibe of the country. Much rises and falls on the condition of the environment. It becomes imperative then to keep a constant watch on our environment and to be as sensitive to it as possible at all times. But in reality, putting ourselves on the line, what are our behavioural patterns towards our environment? Are we driven by a passion to preserve, conserve and promote our environment? Just what is our basic attitude towards cleanliness? Can we, as a nation, rise up to fill the gaps? 

The ugly Indian
At the cost of sounding high-handed or judgmental, or both, here is my take and probably that of many others with me: As much as we Indians would like to think ourselves to be clean, we are in reality a clan with a skewed sense of cleanliness. While on the face it, our personal dwellings could look all honky-dory-and-fine, there is more to it than meets the eye. There is much muck under the carpet and in many homes it would not be an exaggeration to say that when the maid does not show up, the homes may not be cleaned up. Again, while we bathe every day, we feel indignant at washing our own bathrooms, and often times it is the maid who does that ‘dirty job’.

A look at these published findings conducted by the Hygiene Council and supported by Reckitt Benckiser is clearly writing on the wall about our levels of personal cleanliness: All swabbed kitchen cloths in India are heavily contaminated and found to be the dirtiest items in Indian households; in 92 per cent cases, chopping boards and knives are found to be contaminated; 45 per cent of homemakers do not wash fruit and 51 per cent of them do not wash vegetables before eating; only 44 per cent of them clean and disinfect their child’s lunch box every day; only 44 per cent of children are made to wash their hands after playing outside.

The road to & fro dirt
And this attitude is transmitted to the public domain as well. Filth and dirt does not really repel or disgust us. We grow, from our own mediocre standards of cleanliness in our homes, to tolerate squalid surroundings. We solemnly give our implied acceptance to dirt through our willingness to put up with it. Heaped trash, pile-ups of garbage, overflowing sewage, open drains, water logging, strewn pathways, unkempt surroundings and generally foul-smelling environs are just approved, without much resistance, as a way of life.

The truth is plain and simple and uniquely Indian. Yes, “we are all like this only”. No wonder, an international leader once openly called Indians ‘Congenital litterbugs’. And this facet of our attitude has won for us the ugly title of ‘the ugly Indian’.

India, the world’s largest democracy, is the second most populous country in the world after China. It is also one of the world’s fastest growing economies. The growing population, together with the growing economy, churns out much waste. Bangalore alone, with a population of over 10 million people, is believed to produce 5,000 tonnes of garbage every day. It is obvious then, that for any visible signs of cleanliness, waste of such magnitude needs to be managed efficiently and scientifically.

We Indians regrettably are, by nature, a bit laid back when it comes to such lofty objectives. Though we have garbage policies that are perpetually evolving to meet the growing demands of increased waste, they are either not implemented effectively or are poorly monitored. Often times, these policies are also not adhered to by citizens. Waste segregation, for instance, is poorly managed by most households. Even the basic segregation between wet waste and dry waste is conducted in a haphazard and casual manner.

A very high population density with poor infrastructure compounds the problem of filth and dirt. Our lack of pride in our environs and subsequently a driving desire towards its preservation and upkeep adds fuel to fire. Archaeologists contend that years of colonial rule have further led to a retrograde attitude towards historical monuments and shrines. There is no cherished sense of belonging towards national landmarks. It is commonplace to see ancient architectural marvels and heritage sites of our country disfigured and denigrated with spit and pan-stain, graffiti, litter and poor maintenance. 

The road to dirt is thus numerous and multifold. Yet, there is only a single highway to a pristine and clean land. And that is no magic route, rather it is a single-minded, collective will of a nation towards an immaculate and clean setting.

Much has been said and deliberated over garbage, filth, and the like. Drastic situation requires a drastic solution and it is now time for some concrete action. The one big solution to the one big problem of dirt is personal involvement. Every living citizen needs to be engrossed, obsessed and driven by the desire for cleanliness. As Martin Luther King Jr would often say, “Our lives begin and end the day we become silent about the things that matter.” So, what we need here is some shouting and making some noise over dirt. In her book, 50 Campaigns to Shout About, Ellie Levenson talks about the ‘broken windows’ theory, which espouses the truth that if some things in a community are left broken or dirty, then the community declines, both physically and socially, as people come to believe that vandalism, littering and other anti-social behaviour is tolerated or even accepted. She puts it succinctly, “So when it comes to litter, you are less likely to drop your own litter if the street is clean than if it is already strewn with other people’s rubbish”. The moral of the theory is that dirt needs a seed to grow and once the seed is laid it grows, multiplies and spreads itself like cancer cells invading the surrounding clean areas. The antidote for this virus is inoculating the public with our voices against dirt. Don’t take any litter lying down in your vicinity. Make some noise about it, find a way to clear it yourself, and if that becomes a daunting task, seek help and the involvement of others.

Let’s do it
As in any matter, unity is our strength. Harnessing the entire neighbourhood toward a cleanliness drive will be the biggest resource in the endeavour towards a cleaner society. While a head or leader at the top would help, it still does not matter if there is no one to give directions. Members of the neighbourhood can become volunteers. Others who cannot volunteer need to give their unconditional support and encouragement. This backing is as important as front-level campaigning, for as Sam Bacon, a former non-profit community organiser and campaigns officer put it, “For the overwhelming majority of campaigns, volunteers are the life blood for whatever you are trying to achieve. As such, it is crucial that you treat them like the prized commodities they are. The golden rule, therefore, is to be grateful. Try to ensure volunteers are treated in the best possible way. If you are using your volunteers only for the mundane and thankless tasks, don’t be surprised if they seem unenthused at the prospect of coming back to help you out.”

Ultimately dirt, which is matter in the wrong place, needs to find its right place. If every locality can provide for adequate trash cans at strategic places, not only will litter be reduced, but this practice will culminate in a more civil and conscientious society. An experiment at the University of Groningen in Netherlands proved this thesis. When an envelope with a clearly visible five-euro note was placed into three different mailboxes in the same area — one a clean mailbox, one a graffiti-covered mailbox, and one a mailbox with litter surrounding it, the incidences of a passerby stealing the money doubled when the mailbox suffered from graffiti or litter. This only goes to prove that when a locality is tidy in appearance, it inspires a passerby to respect the ground he is walking on and thus to maintain and exhibit an honourable demeanour.  

Among other simple remedies to cut down on dirt and litter, saying no to plastic bags is a proven route to clean surroundings. “Environmentally unfriendly and viewed by many as disposable, plastic bags are perhaps the most obvious sign of our throw-away culture,” observes a campaigner of reusable bags. “Very simply, always carry a reusable non-plastic bag with you and ask others you know to do the same,” she exhorts.

Recycling and reusing everything possible is another effective strategy in reducing litter and garbage. Because of a lack of awareness in recycling, much that can be recycled is thrown away. Educating ourselves in matters of what can be recycled and reused would make us less prone to the use-and-throw culture we have come to live our lives by.
Cleanliness is next to godliness, we’ve all been told. As people from the mystic land of yogis and yoga, it is now time to pull up our socks and do our act to get there next to Godliness itself. Let’s do it. Let’s do it right. Let’s do it right now!