In a bid to increase the hygiene and cleanliness in the city, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) staff has come up with a novel idea. The civic staff has resorted to “Gandhigiri” against the violators of rules who pee in the public places.
During the drive launched in the busy area of Kothi, Sultan Bazar and other surrounding areas, a team of GHMC employees caught hold of those who passed urine on the footpaths and open public spaces despite the availability of urinals and toilet facility in the vicinity.
In the shaming drive the staff garlanded such violators and took their photographs. “apart from garlanding and photos the passers by and staff members also clapped for them so that they never again do any such thing”, a GHMC official said.
The unique drive as part of which about half a dozen people were garlanded on the first day, was launched as mere imposition of fine had failed to yield the results and urination in public remained a big problem in the city, GHMC deputy commissioner Vijaya lakshmi said.
“Though we have put up posters cautioning against the urination in public and also provided the address and location of the public toilets, some habitual offenders continued to indulge in peeing in public forcing us to resort to this drive”, said Vijaya lakshmi. On seeing the shaming of some, others fled from the scene, the staff said.
The drive evoked different responses from the people. While some meekly gave in and accepted the garlanded promising not to violate the rules, other resisted and one came to blows with the GHMC employees. “I am not alone. There are many people who did. On seeing two others I also came to relieve myself. Why are you picking me up for this punishment”, he asked angrily raising a fist at the person who tried to garland him.
He was allowed to go but the GHMC staff managed to find out his identity for subsequent action.
Under the GHMC rules, open defacation and urination is an offence and such persons can be fined upto Rs 200. last year GHMC imposed fine on 19260 persons last year and during a special drive 3500 persons were fined last week.