Only Swachh Bharat Abhiyan won’t do. A real mindset change is required for noticeable cleanliness around us
A survey report for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan came on May 4. Indore got the distinction to lead other cities in the survey followed by Bhopal. Not a single district from Uttar Pradesh achieved cleanliness, ranking under 50 — other than Varanasi. Uttar Pradesh got the distinction of contributing four of the most unclean cities. The purpose of the survey was to provide clear picture of developments in the sector of cleanliness, hygiene and sanitation under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The criteria for the survey included waste collection, segregation, recycling, disposal, prevalence of open defecation etc. Each metrics of survey were assigned certain points according to their importance in overall cleanliness. Points add upto total of 2,000 points. 45 per cent out of the 2,000 points was allocated to open defecation free facilities, 30 per cent points were given to response from citizens whereas the rest 25 per cent has been allocated to miscellaneous subjects. Self-assessment by municipalities has been given most important place in the survey. The survey team covered more than 17,500 locations, 2,582 community hubs and 2,560 economic centres to assess the cleanliness level across various cities.
On October 2, 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a clarion call to clean all filth and dirt. Politicians, businessmen and officers came out in open with a broom in their hand to contribute to the mission. One positive contribution of this movement was to make this profession more dignified. However, if we had a value-based education system, it would not have come to a situation where the Prime Minister himself would have to lead a mission for cleanliness drive. More than 70 years have passed since independence but the previous Governments never shed a thought to bring this cleanliness drive before. No effort had been made in the past before to change the mindset towards such profession, which has been considered as menial and undignified job in our society and those involved in cleaning activities have always been attributed to a lower social status.
So-called intellectuals of society like teachers, professors, writers, researchers and students hardly make a contribution in bringing cleanliness. If they had been so, then the question of cleanliness would not have risen and the Prime Minister could not have needed to start this mission. Education in India is limited to the purpose of getting a good job and respect in the society. Mind is treated like a box in the realm of education. One can put numerous information and statistics and mind can process them as per its need during exams and interviews. However a real education will be lacking till education does not humanises, sensitises and treats labour with dignity. Media plays one of the most important role in shaping the mentality of citizens. They could have easily moulded masses to create awareness towards hygiene and cleanliness but they couldn't.
The unhygienic and dirty environment is mainly attributed to our socially stratified structure. In the caste hierarchy, there are thousand castes, but the task of cleaning is assigned to one particular caste on the basis of birth and decent, and that particular caste has been placed lowest in the hierarchy. This created a mindset that involving in such activities is not only undignified but will also dilute the education and knowledge possessed by one. Situation is so worse that people never consider once, before littering waste at any place and believe that responsibility to clean resides with someone else.
The Prime Minister started the mission and found support among upper strata too but the question is: How to get society involved in the movementIJ Education is one such medium through which masses can be taught to imbibe it like any other work which they pursue. Value based education makes understanding, thinking; not merely ensuring the degree and courses. Cleanliness is part of our life. so why not it should be made part of education curriculaIJ If the rich and prosperous citizens would have given as much focus for cleaning drive as they give to their businesses, they might not have to go to foreign countries to enjoy such luxuries.
laurels and awards like Padma Shri, Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan should be given in fields like sanitation, cleanliness, pollution control etc. School kids should be given training in cleanliness. Countries like Japan include cleanliness activities in their curriculum for school children. Children not only clean their utensils and tiffin boxes after their lunch but also sweep the floor, irrespective of their family's social status.
I am not a pessimist but when economic structure is being linked with caste, it forms the stumbling block in this endeavour. End of caste system looks dismal in near future. Even if caste system continues, all efforts should be made to bring dignity, income and equality to this profession. Even if someone from other caste enters in such a profession, they use to hire someone from that particular caste to carry out work. Forced by the circumstances, some of so-called upper castes take up this menial job but are ashamed to perform unless direct pressure is built on them from higher authorities. There is no solution to such problems at administrative and political level. Till society as a whole does not shed this mentality, there is no hope for much improvement.
(The writer is a Member of Parliament in lok Sabha)