It is heartening to see that steps are actually being taken to address the issue of littering in public places. During the time that I covered India’s eastern region for a national newsmagazine I worked for, I approached three consecutive mayors of Kolkata spanning two subsequent governments, over a period of a decade and a half and discussed with them the possibility that they “do something” to tackle the problem of garbage on the roads.
I have registered their responses briefly in a chapter or two in one of my books but the gist of it was that they were really well meaning; heard me out patiently; said that they themselves were aware of the problem and pointed out that there in fact were existing laws against “committing nuisance” in public places but implementation of these is difficult if not impossible given the size of our population and the degree of its ignorance in terms of “civic sense”. “Don ko pakardna sirf mushkil hi nahi balki namumkin hain.” The iconic dialogue from the super hit Hindi film, Donringing in my ear, I came out each time thinking how Herculean a task it must be to stop people from “committing nuisance” in public places.
The dejected feeling is often further reinforced when, walking down the city roads maybe, one sometimes spots a sign or two (perhaps the vain endeavor of a conscientious citizen), scribbled across a wall, like graffiti, commanding passersby: “Do not commit public nuisance here,” directly above a pile of garbage. In some locations, we have all seen tiled images of gods and goddesses plastered onto walls in an attempt to stop people from committing “public nuisance”. However, that the problem required a holistic overhaul rather than patchwork temporary solution was something that we all, I think, knew. It is heartening therefore to see that the new regime is taking a serious note of the issue and has taken a set of proactive steps to deal with it.
Journalists have received the following notification listing the different steps that have already been taken, are being taken and will be taken soon (including the fining of penalty to offenders). According to me, one of the most important steps is the drive to create awareness, which is integral to any long term, sustainable change. In this context, I am going to appeal to all parents, teachers, governments and society in general: PLEASE, please create the drive of awareness to educate our boys. Is there some way we can recognize the boys from the demons whose depravity has sunk to such lowly depths that hell too wouldn’t have space for them? I was asked by a veteran journalist to address, in Desktop Doodles, the horrific incident which took place… .of a little girl who was brutally killed, but sorry, Dada, I have no words to express the blackness I feel.
(The writer is Editor, Features)