Swachh in Manipur
"Nothing inspires cleanliness more than an unexpected guest"

Olivia Gurumayum *

North East Swachh Bharat Mission on November 13 2018 :: Pix - : IT News

Many people are in farrago of which place to go on holidays, where to eat. Improving tourist spots is the on-going demand with clean restrooms. Whichever place we choose to go the first thing comes our mind is "should be Clean Restroom" and "Clean eating Place".

People even started suggesting restaurant that has got different taste with clean ambience enough to match with fashionable outfit and attractive ambience. Every single individual wants cleanliness. Just that we do not want to clean up the mess not all but some individuals.

The busy life absorbs all the time that we do not even have time to look for dustbin. The tourist spots, the beach, the river bank, the roads, the streets, the drain, have become dustbin. Some people have initiated to clean places to save environment and the aquatic lives.

Many still need to learn what cleanliness looks like, how it can be maintained and most importantly the benefits of it – both in health and environment. Of course, with the population shooting up the sky it will surely take time to clean up every nook and corner of the country.

Cleanliness drive from Room to Street

Some people have obsession on cleanliness, some enjoy the mess. But, everyone demands cleanliness wherever they go; taking initiative is a big question.

It would have been much easier for us to clean the huge pile of waste if we had the habit of cleaning the little room since our childhood. It is easier to follow a habit than to adopt a new one. We cannot change overnight. Cleanliness must begin from home.

The other day I saw two young boys riding expensive bikes right in front of me. With that expensive bike I was sure they will not jump the traffic light as it was about to turn red.

But, took me to shock, the pillion threw an empty bottle right in the middle of the road and jumped the traffic laughing with all their heart. "You cannot judge people with their outward appearance, but, can surely judge by their behaviour" (this sentence pops out from my mind).

We always admire the beauty and cleanliness of other countries at the same time we keep dropping the solid waste inside the drain blocking the flow of liquid. Throwing litters on the roads and spitting on the walls and streets seem inseparable.

Who will clean those litters? We can adopt the same habit of those people living in neat and clean countries.

Yes, the roads may not be good or dusty with many potholes. The drainage system needs to contemplate to keep the smell and waterborne diseases at bay. But, there is dustbin provided for litters and spit.

We only admire those countries that look like paintings, wondering how they maintain cleanliness, and not a single dust or litter can be seen.

We have to understand that it is a unanimous stand to make the city clean. Blaming only to government will not do the magic of cleaning. Public also play an important role same as the government to keep the city clean and green. It is our responsibility and duty as a citizen to glamorize the city.

Recent Initiatives

Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi conferred another award by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for his ambitious mission – Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

The Gates lauded our Prime Minister for his health scheme, the Ayushman Bharat, too. Both the schemes are very important and interrelated for our country.

The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan aimed to make India "Open Defecation Free" by 2019 with slogan "one step towards cleanliness" and 5 year target to build 9 crore toilets. The mission is to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary in 2019 putting an effort to achieve and focus on sanitation.

The importance of this nation-wide campaign is to improve quality of life in the rural areas, roads, streets and improve the infrastructure of India’s cities. How far it could be maintained…time will surely tell us.

Many NGOs, Organisations have arranged cleanliness drive in many areas to achieve the aim of clean city. To keep the environment clean is to keep ourselves fit and healthy. There are many waterborne and airborne diseases spreading like fire.

Many celebrities and publics have also taken initiative on fighting for cleanliness. We all should join hands to the drive making the city clean and green and to improve our health too.