Personally, I am a big supporter of the Swacch Bharat Abhigyan. How many of our friends from abroad have commented on the lack of cleanliness whenever they have visited India? In my case, plenty; and each time I have been dumbfounded. So when our honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and the associated cess, which each Indian has to pay, I had no complaints because I knew it was for a worthy cause.
Since then we have all become familiar with the “Kacchre wali gadi” and its jingle, which is quite catchy by the way. The household refuse is being regularly collected, and also used at recycling plants for the production of electricity.
But, it’s not enough. And I don’t blame the government.
Being a socialist country, we have learned to blame the government for everything. Whenever we see anything wrong, our first impulse is to say “the government is not taking this seriously”.
This aptly undermines the idea of personal responsibility. Since we are paying tax, now my part is done. India must be clean and if it’s not clean, its the fault of the government.
In my native city of Jabalpur, I see that people throw the garbage just about any place, provided it not anywhere near their homes. Anywhere else is fine. Now, it’s the job of the “Kacchre wali gadi”. If they don’t pick up, at least the smell is not reaching their homes.
We become rightly upset when someone insults India, our motherland. But as for the land itself, we don’t care really.
On April 22, the world celebrates Earth Day. This day we should pledge to play our part by first cleaning and changing our minds. The earth, oceans, rivers, ponds, land, our city, block, roads, etc. are our responsibility. The government is by the people; people are not by the government. We must clean our minds first and expand our vision of what’s home.
That place you’re throwing the garbage, that’s home.
That place you are urinating, that’s home.
That pond you are washing the clothes in, that’s home.
Happy Earth Day everyone.