Do you think our roads/stations/bus stops are not clean...????

Recently I came across this post on Facebook. Picture speaks thousands of words! Very true, important message conveyed in very simple manner….It reminds me of one incident…I was travelling in the local train, on the way to office…the lady sitting next to me was talking to her friend who was standing in front of her. Both these girls looked very decent, well qualified. They were discussing about India’s economy, their job profiles etc etc. Lady sitting next to me was praising foreign countries…strict laws and rules for citizens, discipline…etc etc. Her friend also continued to share her experiences. Then this lady sitting next to me pulled out banana from her bag…while eating she proudly shared how health conscious she is, how she manages to do workouts in busy routine, how she takes care of her diet etc…After eating banana, this lady without even giving a thought, threw chhilaka on railway track from window…I was shocked…I gave her weird look..i did not have guts to tell her that you have done wrong thing…I think she noticed that…and as if to give explanation, she said to her friend…”normally I keep waste in my purse only but this fruits and all are biodegradable so I threw it”

I got furious on that comment…I thought ohh God…what is she saying???? ‘Biodegradable’…is she aware what bio degradable means? Does she know how it happens?...how much time it takes, what kind of environmental conditions required for that? if not then better get educate yourself first, why to assume and degrade our environment. She was a well educated girl…was discussing about Indian Economy…working in good company at good post...doing well in her career...was well updated with current news…taking good care of herself…but when it came to social responsibility as a citizen then what happened…???? In my opinion totally failed!

This is very common in local trains…people eat and throw waste out of the window…then in rainy season when there is a water blocking everywhere…media and commuters blame railway management, Government for lack of efficiency, lack of planning and execution…etc…everyone suffers…don’t you think so garbage that commuters throw on railway tacks contribute to this water blocking????   Don’t you think if each one of us decides not to throw garbage on railway track then problems that we face in rainy season can be minimized or prevented????

Whenever I see any lady throwing waste out of window I really get angry and upset…but I hardly showed up any courage to stop them…and it used to make me feel further upset and helpless…But recently I started telling them in loving ways…I tell them “pls don’t throw out give it to me I will keep it in my purse and throw it in dustbin once I get down at station or office”…some don’t listen and don’t pay attention to me showing attitude …their expressions speak…they say “who the hell you are to tell me”…but I don’t feel bad…because at least I expressed myself…some feel guilty and keep the garbage with them…some argue I do not have polythene bag to keep it…some argue there are no dustbins on stations…etc etc…but I don’t care…I do my work…I keep telling them.

There are many girls/ladies who do this…many a times I hear their stories in the train when they stopped someone from throwing garbage out of window…I feel very nice…I do compliment them and share my stories…it feel good to connect with people who think like you J

I remember when I was a kid…may be in 3^rd or 4^th standard, my dad had gone to pick his friend’s sister from airport...her family was coming from Singapore. She had daughter of my age or may be younger to me…when they reached home she asked her mother “where is the dustbin mom, I want to throw wrapper of the chocolate that I ate in the taxi when we left from airport”. My dad shared this incident with me. He told me look how that little girl also understands we should not throw garbage on the road…she had patience to hold chocolate wrapper for 2 hours (Airport to Dombivali)…she could have even given it to her mom…but she dint…look at the sense of responsibility she has. Now you realize why I keep yelling at you and instructing you. My dad always used to say…don’t just keep blaming Government, watch your actions, first check as a citizen are you fulfilling your responsibilities???

Really I am grateful to my dad for imbibing these values on my mind at very young age. Now a day also I see some parents who teach their kids everything but not about social responsibility we have as a citizen of country. At social gathering, at homes, in trains they will make their children dance, tell stories, recite shloka, sing songs etc etc and when they receive chocolate or gift as a appreciation from relatives/friends/audience…these kids just throw wrappers anywhere but not in dustbin and parents also don’t take any objection. Children gets highest ranking/grade/percentage in school…they may top in Environmental Science subject…but they are not encouraged to implement what they learnt in text books in daily life.

I think preventive measures are better than corrective…It saves lots of efforts, time, money and energy. If each one of us assume responsibility to keep our trains, stations, buses, bus stops, auto stand, roads etc etc clean then we can make our city, state, country a better place to live…what say ????