Civic Sense -- This is such a topic that when we try to dig into the issues, the finger is actually pointed towards us only. It is the general nature of people that makes the difference. I have the experience of using toilets in Shinkansen (bullet train) of Japan, TGV Thalys of Europe, etc. The toilets are so neat and clean that I felt like using toilet of my own home. On the other hand, the toilets in our own railways put us in shame. Can you really use the toilet seats? Forget about 2nd class or SL class, even 3AC or 2AC toilets are mostly unusable. 1AC toilets are somewhat OK, particularly in Rajdhani Exp. Cleanliness in trains or stations .... Nothing to say again. We (people) spit everywhere. People chew tobacco/beetle leaf (pan) etc. and spit everywhere, truly considering the railway as their own property. We do not hesitate in throwing away the waste anywhere. Eating peanuts (mumfali) in trains is a very popular time passing, which is always followed by scattering the broken nut shells all around. Cigarette smoking is banned in trains. Moreover, it is banned since 2008 2nd Oct in any public place. Yet you will see lot of people doing this without any hesitation. Travelling in trains in drunken condition, or consuming alcohol on board is also prohibited. Yet some people do these. There are many .... so let us not prepare a long list. Coming to solution, only one thing is coming to my mind, which is a very very strict disciplinary action. No rule is effective, unless the rule breakers are identified and properly punished. So, policing is very very important, in addition to improving some infrastructural features. Some of them are: 1. The dust bin within the railway compartments are not enough large, resulting into spilling over and scattering the garbage all around. Better designed dust bins are essential. 2. Sufficient water supply and time to time cleaning of compartments, toilets. 3. Better designing of toilets, so that a passenger feels at home. This is very essential, as there may a sick passenger. One may have a stomach problem on a long journey. So well designed properly clean toilets are very important. 4. Water hose pipes should be installed in toilets, so that the passenger himself/herself can clean the toilets before and after the use, as necessary. 5. In 2nd class compartments, vendors dump sacks of goods in toilets. I do not know how IR will control this. 6. Strict vigilance ... this is very important for maintaining the cleanliness. The defaulters should be fined heavily on spot. For example, the moment a person is caught while smoking, he should pay a fine of Rs 500. Also the concerned authority should be honest enough to see that this defaulter does not get trough by paying a bribe of Rs 100 (this is India). Similarly, this should be implemented for other offenses also, for example spitting. 7. Strict implementation of all these everywhere, and anything that is necessary has to be done for that. If other countries can implement such strict rules, why can't we?
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