Environmental pollution has been a topic of major concern for decades throughout the world. India too is facing the challenge of educating its masses about the burning sensation of health and hygiene. The rising population without the rise in the living standard of people has made India rethink its policies so far.
Can we blame the government for everything and anything?
The answer is hard to define when one section of the country is giving too much to protect the environment while the other section of the same society is adding too much waste for remaining to take care of. It’s kind of a cycle going on here, where half of India’s population is on a cleanliness drive the other half is on a littering drive.
The uneducated poor whose worldview is confined to the search for food and shelter have very little or no say in this. On the other hand, the intellectuals and educated are busy snapping their lifestyles in comfort with less and no regard for the environment as such.
So, when the idea of environment surfaces in the mind of people different opinions are formed. Poor and uneducated finds dustbin to be a luxury item. While the educated ones find it a hassle to walk even two meters far just to throw the rubbish in the dustbins.
Indian roads are the liveliest example of the current scenario where every individual sitting inside the vehicle has something to throw outside not bothering enough, to think that the place might be someone’s home. This shows the morality and civic sense of people residing in Indian society. Are we marching forward toward development and sustainability?
The concept of sustainability and pollution is a burning topic all over the world but at a closer look, the notion of a clean environment is a far cry. Individuals have regarded the slogan of environmental degradation as a fashion statement by carrying a jute bag to save the tree while also, throwing the plastic wrapper after eating in the open space thinking it’s just a piece of wrapper, not the whole tree.
The notion of healthy life is another topic of discussion in Indian societies. When half of the population is talking about the environment and its impact on human health with their degree of knowledge at the same time, the other half of the population is lacking even basic education about the environment.
Environment when polluted is a concern at the macro level but its prevention and preservation is of micro phenomenon. So, far Indian societies with the rapid rise in urbanization and the industrial boom are witnessing major environmental degradation.
So, what if the solution lies in individual hands? The diversity in Indian societies gives it ample opportunity to move forward including the masses. One society can teach the other. The basic habit of taking care of our mess is the underlying factor over here. Individuals who believe in keeping their home clean also tend to throw rubbish everywhere. The situation where the concept of wastebins is yet to flourish the habit of seeking wastebins when traveling outdoors seems like a future unknown and uncertain.
The habit of littering the surrounding has a direct effect on the environment as well as on one’s culture and ethics. When most societies are searching for another planet as their next home, Indians are still looking for wastebins in the market.
The responsibility lies in the hands of the government as well as individuals, when the government initiates strict policies like placing wastebins in every 50 meters point people will eventually utilize it. Also, individuals instead of thinking that they are not only the one throwing in the open space should look into other developed countries as they look into the people of other countries for inspiration.
Little by little Indians need to change their habit of dumping things everywhere without thinking about the consequences for the future, developing a habit is just like going to school every day, you may not know the purpose when you were young but you will eventually find it meaningful with time.
So, what is the use of education when one cannot implement it in real life?
Each day, even if one individual develops a habit of “Taking care of our mess”, the Indian mission of a clean environment seems fruitful. India needs citizens who are willing to take responsibility for their actions like ‘responsible citizens’ of the nation.
Democracy is only fruitful when citizens accept their duty before demanding their rights. Similarly, not littering the environment with garbage which is neither good for our eyes nor our health, is also one of our biggest responsibility towards our nation and also towards our planet Earth. No matter if it’s my society or yours it’s still our habitat, where there are generations yet to come and species yet to sustain. One should stop thinking in a way that planet Earth is a free ride and we are the lucky winners.
“So, are you willing to take care of your mess?”
