Why clean India will never work.

[Genesis]

Usually I am very cynical about gov initiatives, due to the past record. But I feel optimistic about this one, because times are different.

You being non-Indian may not fully comprehend the problem, which is of mindset. Almost everybody (even educated and rich people) dump waste or trash on the roads. If somebody tells them not to do that, they would say that everybody else does it. And they are right about that. This was one of those problems in which nobody would change their bad habits, because they wanted others to change first. As I mentioned before, most people I know also behave in that way, even though I have often chided them for throwing garbage out of the car window.

Suddenly there is a call to change from the PM himself, and the entire top leadership of the country is making a widely publicized symbolic gesture about it. You have to understand that Modi is not just the PM, he also has immense star power - popularity. He is a celebrity as well as a PM. Just like some causes get a boost when a celebrity campaigns for it, now that the celebrity PM himself is exhorting people to action, everybody has woken up and expressed a willingness for change.

Yesterday was the birth anniversary of Mohandas Gandhi, which is usually a public holiday. But every govt employee went to their workplace today with a broomstick in their hands, and cleaned the building and premises. The Prime minister and high ranking cabinet ministers were seen on TV doing the same. The private sector also followed suit - although it is a declared holiday, many industries and offices had employees turn up and clean the place. Schoolteachers, schoolchildren, armymen, policemen, all participated.

Now the whole country knows that everybody else is willing to start changing, and they no longer have the excuse of "well, everybody litters, why shouldn't I?" Suddenly it feels like a collective mission, a challenge to ourselved to clean up the county in the next five years. The emotional appeal also worked. (MK Gandhi was a big proponent of hygene and cleanliness, and used to clean toilets himself to teach others the importance of that. He also said that "cleanliness is next to godliness.")

Staying clean is a daily thing, when a movement is new, it's fresh, it's exciting, but it wares out. I'm not optimistic about Modi not because of any prejudices, but because I seen too many leaders hailed as the next big thing and then....welll. Ma is the least popular of all presidents in Taiwan, he was once the star, good looking, American educated, and good speaker. Now he can't walk down the street without getting punched in the face.

Obama....Need I go on....


I'm not saying it won't work, but give it time, be patient. India has 1.3 billion, you need time to adjust to the new norms. For example, my dad still has to have green onion every meal or else he can't eat, doesn't matter now he can eat anything he wants and don't have to use the onion for flavor. Old habits die hard.

 

[nvKyleBrown]

lol, these journalists, morons. What exactly does this person think will happen with this movement. Or lack there of.

Everything needs a start, just like Chinese tourists, you can't change them overnight, it takes time, but as soon as you start, some effects gets taken.

If not doing it is the reason to not do it, then nobody do anything, cause doing something might change something.

Though there are exceptions, American tourists.....and Brits

What was that British and American comment suppose to mean? That they don't do anything? or they don't change? or that they are the exception (good? bad?)?

 

[TheMatador]

You should tell this to our Prime Minister, who is from a backward caste. I'm sure he will agree.

Modi is high caste but manipulated public perceptions to say he is low caste

 

[janon]

Modi is high caste but manipulated public perceptions to say he is low caste

Thanks for confirming that you joined only to troll. My guess is that you are not from China.

@Chak Bamu @Horus @Oscar : An ip check might be edifying.

 

[SrNair]

This caste problem in India is exactly the reason why it can never become the aspiring superpower it envision to become in the future!
Caste system in India - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There is no point of caste system in here.And we dont want to be a Superpower.It is a subcontinental mentality where throwing garbages in to neighbours land or compound.
Strict measures and severe punishments change that stupid mentality of Chinese people.
But in our South Asia it is still rampant because of the lack of regulation.
This same India have Mysore and other clean South Indian cities

 

[Gibbs]

There is no point of caste system in here.And we dont want to be a Superpower.It is a subcontinental mentality where throwing garbages in to neighbours land or compound.
Strict measures and severe punishments change that stupid mentality of Chinese people.
But in our South Asia it is still rampant because of the lack of regulation.
This same India have Mysore and other clean South Indian cities

By using the term South Asia you're generalizing.. There are countries in the region with world class sanitary conditions and civic sense. So be more specific

 

[Spring Onion]

If England can become a clean nice country why cant India

 

[GORKHALI]

If England can become a clean nice country why cant India

???? Well England wasn't clean. You ever been in England and its countryside.We Indians can only dream off

 

[SrNair]

By using the term South Asia you're generalizing.. There are countries in the region with world class sanitary conditions and civic sense. So be more specific

If you mentioned SriLanka then Tamil dominated area of SriLanka is not that good.Still in development.

 

[bitter_truth]

100% True post #1 ... I am a proud Indian.. But my proud becomes shame when I see people sh!tting openly.. And this is not limited to villages but if you have time then go and watch it is happen from village to even bigger cities.
And this is the problem of money.. It is the intension.. If we (each indian) decide to make toilets.. We can do this.. But then again if you go and ask people they will say "chalta hai yar.. Hum gaanv ke log hain khulli hawa me hi maja ata hai".. I mean this is the thinking of our people.. Whom to blame here.. Govt? Modi? NO.. Its our proud indians.. Face the reality.. I mean we have to move on from this thinking.. Any tourist comes here.. What he will tell about India in his country.. The tajmahal or the filth?
Take my points seriously indians and pakis do not be a victim of superior complex.. By reading my post.
I AM STILL A PROUD INDIAN..

 

[Bobby]

We Indian talk too much and do very little.......and then blame others and govt.

 

[Biplab Bijay]

This caste problem in India is exactly the reason why it can never become the aspiring superpower it envision to become in the future!
Caste system in India - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You know, sometimes I wish that I was born in a lower caste. You will never understand the hardship we face being a higher caste.

 

[Gibbs]

If you mentioned SriLanka then Tamil dominated area of SriLanka is not that good.Still in development.

Hence you need to stop generalizing

And realize Northern area's are just coming out of 30 years devastation.. So it will take a bit of time to catch up to the rest of the country.. Stll Jaffna is on par to any mid size SL town

 

[Dash]

Only if the state govt co-operate and take this up a serious task. IF this becomes as successfull as PGSY, then it will change India.

 

[Shatterpoint]

Already it has degenerated into a photo op.