The Prime Minister’s initiative to launch ‘Clean India’ campaign may not be the first but it surely is the right step at the right time. India perhaps figures high in the top 10 dirty countries of the world and if the garbage dumps, market places and stinking drains in our State are any indication, Goa’s contribution to this status of India must be substantial.
If this long campaign has to succeed there must be whole-hearted participation of the people, greater than that of the government. More than cleaning, we should stop ‘dirtying’. Otherwise, we will get bogged down in an unending battle.
Engaging schools, government offices, etc to kick-start the campaign and spread awareness was excellent. This should not end in tokenism. However, we could have done without some celebrities and leaders who came on the streets in sparkling attire, with sun glasses on their foreheads and wielded brooms lazily more for the cameras than for serving the cause. Such hypocrisy has negative effects and is counter-productive.
Cleanliness is close to goodliness and we can surely achieve the goal, easily in small Goa, given the right education, motivation, commitment, and above all, the seriousness it deserves.
Rodney de Souza, Assagao
