What comes to your mind when you hear the name of any developed foreign nation? Indeed, it is their top-notch cleanliness. But is it the same when they think of India?
This is one of the core factors that pose a threat to India’s reputation in the global context, despite its enormous development and achievements. However, the country’s sanitation problem cannot be attributed to a single factor. With such a huge population, efficient methods are to be implemented, and overall cooperation of the general public is also significant.
Who Really Dirtied India First?
Looking back at ancient history, several centuries ago, India pioneered advanced sanitation techniques that awed the world. One of the most noteworthy civilisations that India can boast of is the Indus Valley Civilisation. Dating back to around 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE, this civilisation paved the way for global trade, arts, crafts, and various technologies. However, what stood out was the spectacular urban planning, especially the sophisticated drainage system. Professional masonry ensured the smooth functioning of sewage disposal and water management systems.
This advanced system existed long before European nations. Then began colonialism in India. Not only were the riches and spices looted, but India’s technology was as well. During this time period, focus on native improvement was apparently missing. Apart from infrastructural developments and the introduction of various concepts, including railways, cleanliness remained out of sight.
The outbreak of diseases like cholera, plague, etc led to the formation of policies and urban planning.
Unfortunately, these policies were designed only to benefit the colonials. The health and sanitation of native Indians were duly neglected, and concentrated areas were forced to remain without any proper administration.
Selective Beneficiaries
As the English trade and wealth flourished, their settlements in India also had to be focused, but at the cost of native exploitation. British settlements, including military cantonments, administrative centres, and residences of the elite class, required a smoother means of everyday activities. This resulted in better roads, water connectivity, railways, and much more, including sewage and wastewater management. The real concern, despite these implementations, was the nature of its selective development. While a portion of society that had British quarters was well-planned and developed, there existed a group of the Indian population lacking even adequate facilities. This coexistence was major in cities like Bombay and Calcutta.
This unequal urban development continued post-independence.
Population Explosion
India, one of the most populous countries in the world, faces challenges due to this inclusivity problem. After independence, the country’s population grew from 350 million to over 1.4 billion today. Rapid urbanisation and population growth have led to inadequate sanitation across the country. The lack of waste-disposal spaces and inadequate measures to address them also contribute to the existing issues. From households to wastes generated by industries, an overall approximate of 170,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste is generated on a daily basis. This strains the local bodies further, resulting in poor waste management.
The accumulation of slums in various parts of a city is another hurdle in the process. Due to rapid urbanisation and various economic factors, slums continue to exist in modern cities. These areas severely lack cleanliness and sanitation due to insufficient access to facilities like sewage connectivity and waste disposal. Hence, they remain breeding grounds for diseases and people get affected too easily with limited or sometimes no means of help and administration.
Public Responsibility
Most of the time, only the governing bodies and policies are left to be blamed. The basic moral responsibilities of the citizens are constantly ignored. People maintain cleanliness in their households at the cost of littering public places. The sense of behaviour expected of someone else to take responsibility thereafter is the core issue. Dumping of waste on the roadsides has become a common sight on Indian streets, despite the installation of CCTV cameras and the imposition of fines. Looking deeply, the lack of adequate bins and improper maintenance of them also prompts citizens to keep dumping on the streets.
Pollution, especially plastic pollution, holds a significant position in India’s cleanliness issue. Their improper disposal worsens the environment and contributes to waste accumulation. When these wastes come in contact with water bodies, like oceans and rivers, aquatic life and drinking water eventually get affected, leading to an imbalance in the entire ecosystem.
More than ‘Who dirtied India first?’, ‘Who continues to dirty India?’ sounds more significant. While the government introduces policies like the Swachh Bharat Mission for a cleaner India, its success lies in collective responsibility. From its implementation by authorities to the cooperation of citizens, the collective effort could save India from its current situation. The ancient India that proved its excellence in waste management through infrastructure and administrative perfection now struggles to manage cleanliness even in modern urbanised cities. This “cleanliness paradox” requires immediate attention as it is linked to the health of both the people and the environment. At a time when India excels in almost everything, the sanitation factor holds back its glory.
References