Swaccha Bharat Mission, a close look.

On the occasion of 2nd October :
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA, HOW I SAW IT FROM THE NEAR :
1. Swacchha Bharat Mission plan of our country is quite an enthusiastic plan. Government has a wish to implement it in letter and spirit. Here, at the moment, supply side of the facility is strong but the demand is not so keen. Out of experience of participating with the real job for several years, I realized that if the public demand and participation for CLEAN becomes stronger then the Municipal machinery will automatically start functioning. There is no resentment for dirty environments and so the Cleaning Work is carried out in a customary manner. Not with a target of real clean everywhere.
2. Point is why the demand for Clean is not so keen? I think in the past, in India, this issue of “Clean” was never raised so strong. There was no other way than to adjust with the given system. Society developed immunity. Quite helpless. There was no other way than living in such conditions. Criticizing the government. No solution. Also, public was unaware of their rights and responsibilities with precision. Now there is no big issue in the public to fight out this evil. Minds are sleeping with the problem. We have adjusted our life to such circumstances. A sort of, comfort- zone, formed within non-comfort.
3. How will the sleeping minds be made to wake up: One by setting examples? Before and After. Means how garbage dumps were cleaned and turned into a nice green spot. Second, by Information, Education and Communication. Better, when the young ones are taught in the schools how to handle the problem. Part of social work practicals. After this, the young ones will convince their seniors to practice right ways.
4. Segregation of Waste: A great success in the Solid Waste Management can be achieved once the Garbage is segregated at the source. The bio-degradable waste can be re-cycled and non into other alternative use. At the source, segregation will start, only once the people get aware of its necessity. Mass campaign by media, Government and social bodies including religious groups to take part in spreading the message of segregation. Let it be the talk of the day in every nook and corner of the country. Segregated waste means a good part disposed of purposefully. But then at the same time, Municipal bodies have to be ready to handle the segregated waste. Means, three types of waste to be collected from door steps. Bio and non-bio and third mixed. With time and education the quantity of mixed with come down.
5. I think there is no debate about the word CLEAN. People are clean inside their houses. So, the sense for Clean is already there. We have never been taught to adopt our surroundings. Is it, because it’s shared? Or is it, because we have always seen our surroundings with dumps of waste. We wait for the Municipal staff to do it. That’s quite normal. Door to door garbage collection is new but facing difficulty of implementation and also participation of public. Also, the assigned private agencies to implement it are more for profit and hence they make nexus with the Municipal bodies for corruption. This makes the whole program less successful. Here, I think a greater participation of people who are eager to donate time and energy should be encouraged. For example, why not, Municipal bodies, be advised to supply resources like Garbage lifting trolleys, implements, also staff on their rolls to work on calls of RWA’s and NGOs who are interested in cleaning their environments. Municipal system in most of the towns and cities is not working successfully on its own. When in association with the public the new energy will be formed with new results. So, let’s give enthusiastic young people to participate in this mission in a bigger way and bring out results. Once the taboo and hesitation for work which is classified as menial, is broken, more and more people will join the movement. After all, to some, there is great satisfaction of doing public work.
6. Why Municipal Machinery does not work with full spirit?: Reasons are, one, because they are on permanent rolls with least or no accountability. Other, that their work is not appreciated. So, why will they work, for such an unhealthy work which has been classified in our system as menial and untouchable? No respect for work and worker. No applaud. We are really miser for appreciating the work which is lowest classified in our system. Perhaps our minds have fixed thinking with the caste and work classifications. We have to be taught to unlearn all this. There is logic, when we say, they get wages, for this work like, all others. But if this is the logic, then why is death of an Army Jawan celebrated with full honor while that not of the sweepers who die due to asphyxiant gas cleaning the sewers? After all, this is also for the nation.
Pradeep Khattri, pradeepkhattri@hotmail.com. Written on the basis of personal observations, during working with, an NGO, named Kanpur Parivartan Forum. more