When Mr. Narendra Modi took the podium of Red Fort for the first time, one of the major programmes he launched was Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, a drive to clean India and free the nation of all the filth lying everywhere. It was indeed a great thought which was always in front of everyone but easily ignored. But even after close to one and a half years since the launch, the program is yet to achieve some recognizable results. What can be the reason for this?
To analyze the above question, we have to first ask ourselves another very important question. Why was there a need to launch Swachh Bharat Abhiyan? The answer lies in the hearts of 99% of Indians, who would curse the government and civic agencies for not ensuring the cleanliness of the country but will also either spit there or litter everywhere around them.
We Indians seem to have lost the sense of belonging towards our country after achieving independence. Our forefathers sacrificed a lot to achieve independence so that their future generations can take this country to new heights but all we did was to litter on roads, coloring our walls with urine and spit, defecate openly and then to cover our faults, blame the system. It is as if we Indians now have accepted filth as a part of our life.
It is because of these reasons we needed Swachh Bharat Mission and also this is the reason that this mission has not shown the results expected out of it. So what can be done about it?
According to me we need another mission to support Swachh Bharat in order to make it a success. And that Mission of SWACHH VICHAAR or Clean Thoughts.
Till the time we Indians do not accept cleanliness as a part of our day to day life, no matter how many missions are launched, they are bound to fail. And this cleanliness is not just for the filth outside but for inside filth as well. Respecting women, treating our guests from foreign lands as gods, respecting rules and laws of the land, keeping ourselves and our surroundings clean are something which were an integral part of our society since ancient times. This can be ascertained from the well laid out ancient cities of Harrapa and Mohan Jo Daro where great importance was laid on drainage system and great baths for the public. The respect for rules and laws and for women and elders is an integral part of our epics Ramayan and Mahabharat. But we seem to have forgotten our roots and have distanced ourselves from these ideas.
But we will have to get these values back in our system. But this will have to be a two pronged approach. One for the adult population of the country and another for the children.
For the adults, the government has to come up with clear laws and strict implementation associated with hefty penalties for the offenders that will deter the future offenders. It will take a lot of effort but once we have the system of laws and penalties in place, people would start respecting it and will inculcate the laws in day to day life.
For children, I strongly advocate cumpolsury Social Atiquattes and behavior classes which should be attached to their grades so that like a lesson of history or chemistry it is imprinted in their minds. All schools should be required to hire experts and psychologists to implement these programmes. Even government schools should follow this system. A child who has learnt about the respect, humility, discipline and cleanliness would follow these rules through out his/her life. And the next generation would not be requiring harsh penalties.
So Swachh VICHAAR has to preceed Swachh Bharat if we want to make a difference. Jai Hind.
To analyze the above question, we have to first ask ourselves another very important question. Why was there a need to launch Swachh Bharat Abhiyan? The answer lies in the hearts of 99% of Indians, who would curse the government and civic agencies for not ensuring the cleanliness of the country but will also either spit there or litter everywhere around them.
We Indians seem to have lost the sense of belonging towards our country after achieving independence. Our forefathers sacrificed a lot to achieve independence so that their future generations can take this country to new heights but all we did was to litter on roads, coloring our walls with urine and spit, defecate openly and then to cover our faults, blame the system. It is as if we Indians now have accepted filth as a part of our life.
It is because of these reasons we needed Swachh Bharat Mission and also this is the reason that this mission has not shown the results expected out of it. So what can be done about it?
According to me we need another mission to support Swachh Bharat in order to make it a success. And that Mission of SWACHH VICHAAR or Clean Thoughts.
Till the time we Indians do not accept cleanliness as a part of our day to day life, no matter how many missions are launched, they are bound to fail. And this cleanliness is not just for the filth outside but for inside filth as well. Respecting women, treating our guests from foreign lands as gods, respecting rules and laws of the land, keeping ourselves and our surroundings clean are something which were an integral part of our society since ancient times. This can be ascertained from the well laid out ancient cities of Harrapa and Mohan Jo Daro where great importance was laid on drainage system and great baths for the public. The respect for rules and laws and for women and elders is an integral part of our epics Ramayan and Mahabharat. But we seem to have forgotten our roots and have distanced ourselves from these ideas.
But we will have to get these values back in our system. But this will have to be a two pronged approach. One for the adult population of the country and another for the children.
For the adults, the government has to come up with clear laws and strict implementation associated with hefty penalties for the offenders that will deter the future offenders. It will take a lot of effort but once we have the system of laws and penalties in place, people would start respecting it and will inculcate the laws in day to day life.
For children, I strongly advocate cumpolsury Social Atiquattes and behavior classes which should be attached to their grades so that like a lesson of history or chemistry it is imprinted in their minds. All schools should be required to hire experts and psychologists to implement these programmes. Even government schools should follow this system. A child who has learnt about the respect, humility, discipline and cleanliness would follow these rules through out his/her life. And the next generation would not be requiring harsh penalties.
So Swachh VICHAAR has to preceed Swachh Bharat if we want to make a difference. Jai Hind.
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