Swachh Bharat Diwas 2019: Are You A Swachh Citizen? Here's How You Can Become One And Contribute Towards a Green, Clean India
On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti and also on the fifth anniversary of Swachh Bharat Mission, LatestLY lists down few essential criteria to be followed if you want to become a Swachh citizen. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 had launched his ambitious project 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' or Clean Indian Mission.
Mumbai, October 2: India will celebrate the Swachh Bharat Diwas 2019 on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had, in 2014, launched his ambitious project 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' or Clean Indian Mission with an aim to solve the sanitation and the waste management issues in the country. To mark his tremendous contribution and on the success of the mission, PM Modi recently received the ‘Global Goalkeeper’ Award by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the Mission. At the event, PM Modi dedicated the award to those Indians who helped transform the cleanliness Abhiyan into a mass movement and made it a part of their daily lives.
Becoming a responsible citizen for a cleaner and greener India is the need of the hour. With climate change posing a threat to humanity and habitats, it's high time we become more alert and aware. On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti and also on the fifth anniversary of Swachh Bharat Mission, LatestLY lists down few essential criteria to be followed if you want to become a 'Swachh' citizen. Narendra Modi Receives 'Global Goalkeeper Award' For Swachh Bharat Mission From Bill And Melinda Gates Foundation.
Don't Litter on Roads:
A Swachh citizen will always aim to keep his or her surroundings clean. No matter whether you are at home or on the streets, you have equal responsibility towards your nation and also the environment. Don't throw wrappers, bottles, leftover food on the roads and litter the place. Always remember to carry an extra bag, where you can put these discardable items and dispose of once you reach home. Most of the times there are dustbins placed on the sides of the roads, please do make use of it and help in the beautification of the place you live in.
Don't Defecate in Open
Several toilets have been constructed by Narendra Modi government to stop open defecation. However, till now many people still defecate in open. Transmission of infectious diseases such as diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, and malnutrition are some of the serious health consequences of open defecation.
A Swachh citizen will also never urinate in open. We have seen people getting down from their cars or their bikes and urinating on the sides of the roads. A responsible citizen will understand the harmful implication it can cause to the environment and will never do that.
Don't Use Plastic
From October 2, the Narendra Modi government will ban the use of single-use plastics and fines will be imposed on those who will be violating it. India has a mammoth plastic waste problem and it is not an easy task to dispose of the 9.4 million tons it generates each year. Therefore, the Narendra Modi government wants to get rid of the issue considering the harmful effects they have on our environment.
Every year during monsoon we complain of waterlogging and the hassles which people face, but these plastic bags which you throw on the roads are one of the main reasons for it. Waterbodies die because we humans have not been able to take care of the environment. A swachh citizen will use a cloth bag and will not promote the use of plastic.
Plant Trees
We are all facing the wrath of the environment today, global warming has led to the extremes in the climate we see. A Swachh citizen will plant more trees and will help in building a green society. He or she will never support the cutting of big trees and harming the environment.
Segregate Waste - Dry and Liquid
While disposing of the waste from your house, it is very important to segregate them. A swachh citizen will always keep two bins- one for dry waste and the other for liquid waste. This will help manage the waste management issue with which the country is struggling with.
Use environment-friendly products
A Swachh citizen will always go for using biodegradable products, for e.g. he or she will buy an eco-friendly idol and not something made out of plaster of Paris (PoP). The citizen will always use paper bags or cloth bags when she is out in the market. This might come at a price, but nothing should be more important than our nature.
Spread Awareness
A Swachh citizen will help in spreading awareness about cleanliness in his or her society. One can undertake cleanliness drive along with the children in the society and instil in them the importance of keeping the surroundings clean. The person will also not have a laid back attitude, for eg. if he sees waste being accumulate on the road, he will take the initiative to clean it. If you happen to see someone throwing garbage on the road, stop him and explain why they shouldn't be doing it.
Just like for the benefit of our health, we have been shifting to organic products which are free from pesticides and preservatives, in a similar manner, it is also our responsibility to take good care of the health of the society by keeping it swachh.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 02, 2019 09:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).