The Shintoism also puts a heavy emphasis on cleanliness, and those who practice it believe that to be clean is to be pure. But apart from being a deep-rooted religious practice, it is also the governance model that one can emulate to ensure clean cities and villages.
Goa is currently facing an unprecedented garbage menace. Unprecedented because despite the enormous efforts being put in getting the towns and villages in the State clean, black spots with heaps of garbage at various locations and stinking streets and roads, have become a common sight.
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It’s eight years since the Swachh Bharat Mission was launched on October 2, 2014, and even after spending crores of rupees, Goa’s ranking in cleanliness is only on the slide. This year, Goa ranked 10th amongst 14 states and none of the cities or towns made it in the top 100.
The foremost part in seeking a solution to any problem is to engage with the elements that are at the core of the issue. Government has to engage with the people at the grassroots and disseminate information regarding policies that it intends to implement.
The proposed waste treatment plants (WTP) at Bainguinim, Verna as well as Cacora are being opposed by the locals and the civic bodies have been passing resolutions against the setting up of WTPs. When the government is certain that the technology that has been introduced to take care of the garbage is full-proof, then it needs to address the gram sabhas and municipality meetings as putting the core issue on the back burner and not engaging with the public will only delay a clean and healthier society.
A common sight at every black spot where garbage bins are missing but heaps of garbage is dumped are the signboards that dumping garbage at the spot is ‘prohibited’ and violators will be ‘levied a fine’. However, none of the spots have CCTV cameras installed or anyone monitoring the space. While CCTVs need to be installed, it is equally important that people are levied hefty fines for violation and vote bank politics should not influence the local representatives to interfere in letting those guilty scot-free. In Japan, littering carries a penalty of up to five years in prison or fine up to 10 million yen (more than Rs 58 lakh) regardless of whether you’re a tourist or a resident.
Like Japan and Taiwan, lessons on cleanliness as a personal and social responsibility should be introduced right from playschools and pre-primary schools, not just as a part of the curriculum but as a practice. In Japan, at least in the major cities, schools do not have janitors and students clean their campuses at the end of the day.
In July 2000, Taiwan introduced a new system of garbage collection and also levying fees. Much like the garbage collection trucks/rickshaws in Goa, yellow garbage collection trucks in Taipei move into the lanes of the city twice a day five days a week. However, the difference being Beethoven’s iconic tune Fur Elise echoing throughout the streets. Taipei introduced colour coded plastic bags with dual purpose of daily use and garbage disposal. So every bag sold is garbage collection fees paid directly to the government.
Goa being a small state can emulate the best practices from around the world and get rid of the unprecedented menace in unprecedented ways, and ensure cleanliness is next to godliness.
